This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/immigration-bill-to-make-fluent-english-a-requirement-for-customerfacing-public-sector-workers-10433532.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Immigration bill will mean public sector workers 'must speak fluent English' | Immigration bill will mean public sector workers 'must speak fluent English' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Public sector workers in "customer-facing" jobs will have to be fluent in English under new legislation, the government has said. | Public sector workers in "customer-facing" jobs will have to be fluent in English under new legislation, the government has said. |
Staff will be expected to have language skills that are at least the equivalent of a grade C at GCSE. | Staff will be expected to have language skills that are at least the equivalent of a grade C at GCSE. |
Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock confirmed the move on Sunday. | Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock confirmed the move on Sunday. |
"We are controlling immigration for the benefit of all hard-working people," he said. | "We are controlling immigration for the benefit of all hard-working people," he said. |
"That includes making sure that foreign nationals employed in customer-facing public sector roles are able to speak a high standard of English." | "That includes making sure that foreign nationals employed in customer-facing public sector roles are able to speak a high standard of English." |
The rules, which form part of the government's new Immigration Bill, are set to come into force in September. | The rules, which form part of the government's new Immigration Bill, are set to come into force in September. |
There are already some language requirements in force in the public sector – the health sector regulator, for example, can now demand proof of English-language competence from EU applicants. | |
Doctors are tested by the General Medical Council and rules have been tightened following the 2008 death of David Gray, a British patient who died after a German doctor gave him a lethal dose of painkillers. | Doctors are tested by the General Medical Council and rules have been tightened following the 2008 death of David Gray, a British patient who died after a German doctor gave him a lethal dose of painkillers. |
Previous version
1
Next version