Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the merits of ensuring people coming to the UK have an appropriate level of English Language skills.

The White Paper sets out the Government’s proposals to increase the level of language ability required.

The ability for individuals to communicate is essential to perform civic duties, and for all social connections including, crucially, with the communities in which they live and with state and other agencies such as local authorities and non- government services. Without adequate language skills, there is a risk of isolation as well as poor integration.

Analysis of the Office for National Statistics’ Longitudinal Study, which looks across generations of migrants to the UK, shows that people with better English language skills were more likely to have worked at any time, be economically active or in full-time employment at present.

Being able to speak and understand English also ensures that those coming to work here are less vulnerable to abuse and exploitation in the workplace.