London, Senior ministers say foreigners who marry British nationals and want to join their spouses in Britain should have to take an English-language test.

"We are underlining how important we see command of the English language," Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said, unveiling new immigration proposals in London.

"If we are serious about English, shouldn't we give these individuals a flying start in the U.K. by asking them to speak English from the day they arrive?'" he added.

More than 35 percent of the 47,100 spouses or fiancés who entered Britain last year were from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The proposal for English testing, which can become controversial among immigration and race groups, were part of a carrot-and-sticks package that was announced by Byrne and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith Wednesday.

While on the one hand the new measures seek to make it easier for highly-skilled immigrants from outside Europe to live and work in Britain, on the other it will make it harder for people with low or no skills to enter this country.

"We ignore concerns about the wider impact of migration at our peril," Smith said.

Research has found that when British nationals who themselves speak English poorly - or only outside the home - marry non-English speakers from outside Britain, they often form families where English is never spoken fluently.

A spouse or fiancé would be expected to understand simple questions, read common signs and symbols and understand simple instructions.

If they fail the test, they might be allowed in temporarily to learn English.

EMAIL THIS NEWS COMMENTS No comments yet