Speak English, Or Else!

[trt]

A good Idea, but what's the chances it will happen while we still have people claiming their human rights!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2541892/Speak-English-lose-benefits-Cameron-stop-payouts-immigrants-use-taxpayer-funded-translators.html

[sandyRoe]

Would this apply to Gaelic or Welsh speakers?

[ummmm]

I wonder how many ex pats in Spain speak fluent Spanish...

[2sp_]

I don't speak English, I speak Scots...

[marje]

Probably not that many ummmm, but I wonder how many actually claim any sort of Spanish state benefit.

[Cloverjo]

It's difficult to learn a new language as an adult. It seems unfair to cut people off from all translation services.
Are they going to provide free English language lessons?

[diddlydo]

And what about Glaswegians, Geordies and Scouse-speakers whom the vast majority of people have problems in understanding?

[browntrout]

Why can't all those (self appointed) leaders of communities provide a really useful service for once - free translations. why the hell should I pay for it.

[dunnitall]

Agree browntrout. Anyone going to live in any country should have a basic knowledge and speak the language. Hope they do stop the translation costs, we pay enough for those who have to have translators at the end of a phone in a police station or anywhere else for that matter apparently.

[Ric.ror]

I don't think it's too much to expect people to have some grasp of the language that includes Spanish in Spain
I also think it's a brilliant idea for lessons and translation services to be provided by the individual community groups

[TTG]

Clegg won't allow Cameron to solve this problem.

[bazwillrun]

"I wonder how many ex pats in Spain speak fluent Spanish... "

whats that got to do with anything, I thought the op was talking about here

[smurfchops]

People who can't speak English Will find a way, probably by using English speaking friends as an alias ..

[New Judge]

This has not a hope in hell’s chance of happening because Mr Clegg (leader of the party that came a distant third in the General Election ) will not allow it. So much for democracy.

However, it’s quite a good idea. The ridiculous state that has arisen with official forms being provided in (I think) eighteen languages is preposterous.

The matter of Welsh is not an issue because the Welsh Language Act protects Welsh speakers and no doubt official documents and information will continue to be provided in that language. Fortunately that Act does not extend to any other tongue. Scots and Geordies who cannot make themselves understood to the rest of the country will continue to have problems, though I understand they still use written English in its standard form so they should have no trouble claiming the dole.

Fortunately sub-titles are available for those wishing to watch Taggart, Auf Wiedersehen Pet or Rab C Nesbitt.

[ichkeria]

A ridiculous idea, but hard to tell if it's serious or not.
The notion that people who might otherwise be entitled to benefits legally, might be deprived of them or deterred from applying for them because of a language barrier is pretty obscene. Let's hope it's just more nonsense from a paper which in its zeal seems to have forgotten how to spell Tory (their favourite word?) (!)

[modeller]

My neighbour tells me her department ( something to do with the police ) pays out huge sums of money for translators and solicitors . She said it runs into hundreds of thousands of pounds every year. What makes it worse many of these immigrants have lived in this country for many years and make little or no effort to learn English.

[New Judge]

It's strange that many other countries seem not to find it quite so obscene (among those foolish enough to provide welfare benefits to recently arrived foreigners, that is).

[modeller]

When I was in the army we use to use a Glaswegian to translate what his highland mates were talking about. Mind you it didn't always work ,we frequently couldn't understand him either.

[ichkeria]

The point is that if people are entitled to benefits, language shouldn't be used as an excuse to stop them getting it.
By all means have a language test for would-be entrants but not this half-baked pre-election "we're harder than UKIP" nonsense.

[New Judge]

"we're harder than UKIP"

If only, ichkeria. We can but dream !!!

[EDDIE51]

ummm if you are in Spain or any other EU country and you need official documents or forms filling in you have to speak the lingo or pay for a translator at your own expense. We are the only place where the government spends £millions a year on translators free for those who can't be bothered to learn English.