In Parliament

English Language Learning (27 July, 2020)

Baroness Verma

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to make learning (1) to speak, and (2) to read, English compulsory.

(…)

Lord Popat

My Lords, does the Minister agree that English is key to helping communities to integrate in Britain and that the importance of learning English should be further emphasised as a precondition to granting British citizenship?

Lord Greenhalgh, The Minister of State, Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

My Lords, I thank my noble friend, who has written eloquently on the subject of the importance the English language to integration. Those applying for citizenship are required to demonstrate that they have an appropriate English language speaking and listening qualification.

The full debate can be read through the following link:
https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2020-07-27/debates/C0EF98D7-3AB7-4317-883E-B7E7C477BF80/EnglishLanguageLearning#contribution-2A40B452-5F83-4DCE-A45F-EF11F9919897