Dialect quiz makes up new 'Britishness' test

Monday, 31 October 2005 12:00 AM

Foreign adults who want to become a British citizen will from tomorrow have to prove their knowledge about UK life to be granted a passport.

Questions about the role of MPs and where someone with a Geordie or Cockney accent comes from are just two of the 24 multiple choice questions put to new citizens.

People seeking naturalisation as British citizens are already required to show they speak and understand English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic.

And from tomorrow, they will have to pass the compulsory £34 'Britishness' test at one of 90 test centres around the country.

"Becoming a British citizen is a milestone event in an individual's life - we have recognised the importance of the event by introducing citizenship ceremonies which celebrate the act of becoming a British citizen," said Home Office minister Tony McNulty.

"An understanding of the British language and our way of life is vital. We must maintain and further develop a society in which new citizens feel welcome and where there is a clear understanding of the expectations of all residents - new and old."

He said the new measures would help new citizens "gain a greater appreciation of the civil and political dimension of British citizenship" and the rights and responsibilities that came with it.

"This will enable new citizens to play a full part in their wider community and will benefit both our society and economy," he said.

The new 'Life in the UK' test - which was trialled in eight centres around the country - was welcomed by the Conservatives, although they expressed dismay that questions about British history were not included.

"It is important that people should have an understanding of the democratic society they are entering when they come to this country," said shadow home secretary David Davis.

"However, it is a disgrace that the sample questions seem to show there will be nothing about history in the test. Understanding Britain's history is crucial to understanding how our country works in practice today."

Meanwhile, a survey for the Commission for Racial Equality today finds that people from ethnic minorities living in England feel more British than other parts of the population, although they may not see themselves as English.

Across all ethnic groups, however, people identified "British" values such as respect and fairness, law and order, politeness and courtesy - as well as identifying cultural elements such as queuing, football and traditional British food.

CRE chairman Trevor Philips described the research as "heartening", saying the common set of ideas about what made people good citizens provided a "great foundation for us to build on".

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