The truth about 'high level' language tests for migrants - which include words like 'shop', 'big house' and 'very rich'

Gordon Brown has been extolling the virtues of the scheme for more than a year.

After a headline-grabbing Home Office announcement about it last week, officials spoke of the need for newcomers from outside the EU to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and phrases, and of migrants having a "sufficiently high level of ability".

But the Government's big idea is not quite what it first appeared.

Papers released alongside the announcement said the required English skills would be similar to "A1 of the Council of Europe scale". The Daily Mail has tracked down the Council's A1 document and its requirements are basic, to say the least.

A1 is neither tip-top, or the highest standard - it is the lowest, and by far.

The new arrivals will be expected to show nothing more than "a very basic range of simple expressions about personal details and needs of a concrete type".

They might be expected to explain where they live and show they know enough language for basic survival.

This would include such rudimentary phrases as "where are the shops?", "how much is that?" and "my name is..."

Describing people and their appearance, their job, objects, pets, possessions, events, likes and dislikes, habits and personal experience are considered a step beyond that which is required.

Also excluded are the mainstays of British convention in 2008 - house prices and the credit credit crunch.

Even the next highest standard - known as A2 - is rudimentary.

At that level, there is a requirement only for a "limited repertoire of short memorised phrases covering predictable survival situations".

It certainly makes light of any concerns that future football superstars, following in the bootprints of Argentine Carlos Tevez and the rest, could be barred from obtaining a work permit in the Premiership.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said of the plan last week: "I am afraid they will have to speak English. We do not want people coming to work alone.

"We had originally suggested requiring everybody to have English to GCSE level, but a lot of people thought that was going over the top".

He added: "Footballers earn enough money to pay for professional tuition."

In fact, the average international will be expected to have only the most limited repertoire.

This could include little more than "big house" (describe where you live), "very rich" (simple expression about personal details) and WAG/ champagne (needs of a concrete type).

Critics claim it is the classic example of a Government talking tough only to be betrayed by the small print.

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "This blows a massive whole in Jacqui Smith's rhetoric that new requirements would ensure that those settling in the UK will have a good command of English.

"This will hamper efforts to integrate with communities which could have serious consequences for social cohesion."

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said last night: "These immigrants won't have enough English to understand the meaning of the word "spin", but, judging by this episode, they will very soon find out."