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Free English lessons for immigrants
Enfield council proposes to control the spiralling cost of translating official documents.
- Evening Standard
- Published: 00:00 December 26, 2006
London: Immigrants are to be offered free English lessons in an attempt to encourage integration and slash the spiralling cost of translating official documents.
Enfield council will pioneer the move using money earmarked for its translation and interpretation service.
The council took the decision after Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly and Trevor Phillips, former head of the Commission for Racial Equality, warned that blanket translation of council paperwork was thwarting attempts at integration.
Translation costs
Enfield spends more than £300,000 (Dh1.99 million) a year on its translation and interpreting service and believes it is the first council to allocate part of that budget to lessons.
Deputy council leader Michael Lavender said: "I think Ruth Kelly and Trevor Phillips have a valid point - they have opened the opportunity for a healthy debate.
"I can see many situations where short-term support is essential - for example, for people fleeing persecution who have not learned English and other vulnerable adults. However, all new British citizens are meant to have learned basic English.
"There could be much gained in the long-term by spending some of the money on language classes."
The Government announced recently that immigrants who want to stay in Britain will have to pass an English test.
It spent about £140 million (Dh934 million) on English for Speakers of Other Language courses at London colleges in 2004-05 but is cutting funding next year at a time when many colleges have long waiting lists.
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