Analysis of the latest census figures has found that almost 800,000 people living in England and Wales have little or no English, with more than half of those not working. Migrants with little or no English were found to be 50 per cent more likely to be unemployed, with the problem much more acute amongst women, where overall 60 per cent of those living in England and Wales unable to speak English.
Ann Cryer, the former Labour MP who was one of the first to raise this issue, stated that the figures highlight that more needs to be done in this area, but that “ultimately I don’t think it is a Government solution that we need, it is a solution from he community.” Cryer continued: “I think the Government do have to tighten up – if you are saying that a new husband or wife has to have a reasonable level of English they have got to check that that is the case.”
