Immigrants 'should learn English'

Wednesday, 21 February 2007 12:00 AM

Ruth Kelly has welcomed proposals to improve immigrants' English skills to foster integration.

The Commission on Integration and Social Cohesion today presented its interim report into integration in the UK. It identifies poor language skills as a major barrier and calls on the government to focus on English teaching rather than translation services.

Chairman Darra Singh warned that immigrants who fail to pick up the language soon after arriving in the UK may never do so, adding that translation services can become a "crutch" and barrier to successful integration.

Among the ideas put forward by the commission, which was set up to advise the government in the wake of the 7/7 bombings, is the requirement that spouses wishing to migrate to the UK take an English test.

Mr Singh said: "If you can't speak English - whether you are a new migrant or someone who has lived here for years - you are on a path to isolation and separation."

Communities minister Ruth Kelly welcomed today's report, adding that she is particularly pleased that the commission has focused on translation as the present policy may be incorrect.

The Liberal Democrats claimed that the report highlights the government's failings on language teaching.

Lib Dem communities spokesman Andrew Stunell agreed that more needs to be done to teach migrants English and called on the government to reverse its decision to end the universal entitlement to free courses in English.

The Conservatives said that good English skills are essential for full participation in local communities and the government should redirect some of the funds spent on translation into English classes.

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green described the report as "thought provoking stuff", adding: "It is clear that to promote real cohesion we need both limits to the absolute numbers of new people arriving in Britain every year, and a much bigger effort at ensuring that those who come here can play a full role in British society."

Speaking today on immigration and multiculturalism, Ms Kelly called for a new approach to multiculturalism. She argued that past policies have sometimes "emphasised what divides us at the cost of what unites us".

"We must do more to celebrate our shared values and heritage," the minister argued.

Ms Kelly pledged to do more to address "poisonous" far-right wing groups, claiming that their policies are "unacceptable" and rejected by the main stream.

There must be more support for local groups and leaders who face up to the far-right, Ms Kelly admitted, as well as a more determined effort by the government to address the "rubbish and myths" spread by the far-right.

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