English tests for foreign spouses

The controversial measure would affect more than 40,000 foreigners who are allowed into the country each year as a spouse or fiance.

Ministers believe the step would boost integration and help give new arrivals a "flying start in the UK".

The proposals were announced as the Home Office published details of its new points-based immigration system, which begins in less than 100 days for certain types of highly-skilled workers.

Immigration minister Liam Byrne revealed that the Government will effectively bar low-skilled workers from outside the European Union under the new system.

The aspect of the points-based measures which would have applied to the low-skilled will not be introduced "for the foreseeable future", the minister said.

English tests were introduced for foreigners taking British citizenship from November 2005 and were extended to those seeking settlement in April this year.

Widening the scope to spouses is expected to have a particular impact on Britain's Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, which between them saw 17,000 spouses or fiances enter the UK from their home countries last year, sometimes as a result of arranged marriages.

The consultation paper asked whether a written or oral test should be introduced and also requested comments on whether it should apply to spouses who cannot read or write.

The paper also asked whether failure to pass an English language test should lead to outright refusal of entry to the UK, or whether a temporary visa should be granted to allow the applicant to take language lessons. It suggested that the level of English required for pre-entry should only be "very basic", so the applicant was able to understand simple questions, read common signs and symbols and understand simple instructions.