International   

"Britishness'' test for immigrants

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: All foreigners wanting to settle in Britain will have to pass a compulsory "Britishness'' test from next April under plans to further restrict immigration.

Currently, the test is compulsory only for those who want British citizenship while others get a permanent residency status almost automatically if they have lived here for up to five years.

Announcing the new rules, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said it was "essential'' that those who wished to live in Britain permanently had a good grasp of English language and the British way of life. "It is essential that migrants wishing to live in the U.K. permanently recognise that there are responsibilities that go with this. Having a good grasp of English is essential in order for them to play a full role in society and properly integrate into our communities,'' he said. Migrant groups have protested the Government move. A spokesman for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said it was unfair to impose such a test on those who did not want citizenship.

"This seems designed to place an extra hurdle in the path of people applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain who have already fulfilled other criteria,'' said Habib Rahman, chief executive of the Council.

An estimated 180,000 people each year apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the U.K. They will now be tested not only for their grasp of English but also for their knowledge of British history. They will be expected to know the answer to questions like: How long Britain was at war during the Second World War? When did women in Britain first get the vote? And why did a large number of Jewish people come to Britain during 1880-1910?

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Sri Lanka panel may recommend devolution
"16 Tigers killed"
Coup leader appoints interim Premier
"Britishness'' test for immigrants
Chinese academy row over "pseudoscience"
Ahmadinejad draws flak
Ex-President jailed
Musharraf promises more legislation to protect women, hails new Act
Fiji: India `saddened'
Republican lawmakers to clear the deal
Australia can sell uranium to India: report

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu