English tests for UK migrants

Gordon Brown is to force would-be migrants coming to the UK to pass English tests, in a move which could cut arrivals by 35,000 a year.

The Prime Minister will unveil the controversial plans, which apply to skilled workers from outside the EU, at the TUC annual conference in Brighton on Monday.

Under the Government's current points scheme, migrant workers from outside the EU are split into three groups - highly skilled, skilled and low-skilled.

Of these, only the highly skilled and skilled categories are permitted to seek permanent residence in Britain.

Since last December, highly-skilled migrants have had to show proficiency in English as a condition of entry.

Mr Brown and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will announce on Monday that the requirement is to be extended to all those in the skilled category.

They will be expected to speak, write and understand English to a standard equivalent to GCSE grade A-C.

To prove eligibility they will have to show they have passed an internationally recognised English test or obtained a university degree from a course taught in English.

Government sources say that around 35,000 of the 95,000 skilled workers who came to the UK last year would not have passed an English test.

Mr Brown and Ms Smith will also announce a review on extending the English language requirement to cover low-skilled workers, even though they are not allowed to apply to settle permanently in the UK.

Ms Smith said: "Those who we welcome into the UK to work and settle here need to understand our traditions and feel that they are part of our shared national culture. They need to integrate into our country, learn English and use our language."

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