David Cameron: Immigrants who don't learn English 'may lose benefits'

 
26 March 2013
WEST END FINAL

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Immigrants who fail to learn English may lose any right to unemployment benefits, the Prime Minister said today.

The ability to speak the language will be considered when deciding if a person stands a realistic chance of getting a job.

“We’re going to make that assessment a real and robust one and, yes, it’s going to include whether your ability to speak English is a barrier to work,” he told an audience at Ipswich University.

Under plans to deter mass immigration, benefits will be ended after six months for people from the EU who cannot show they have both made an effort to find work and are likely to get a job.

“They can still come here if they want to, but the British taxpayer will not go on endlessly paying,” he said.

In other plans, Mr Cameron said he will seek an EU deal to make home countries pay for the upkeep of job-seekers who come to the UK.

And he said he would like to reduce child benefit payments that are given to thousands of EU arrivals whose children live abroad. All three party leaders have tried to look tougher on immigration following polls showing high levels of voter concern.

Mr Cameron said: “When it comes to illegal immigrant we are rolling up that red carpet and showing them the door.”

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