ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY VISA RULES FOR SIKH PRIESTS

Early day motion 464, tabled 11 January 2005 by Rob Marris (Labour). Signed by 28 members.

That this House notes with concern the implications for Sikh gurdwaras of the Home Office's new immigration rules, effective from 31st August 2004, requiring Sikh priests applying to enter the UK on temporary visas to work as priests to demonstrate proficiency in the English language to Level 4 and, in due course, to Level 6; further notes the irony that before those rule changes a Sikh priest was on occasion initially refused such a visa because of his fluency in English; believes that it is not clear what business it is of the Government to be concerned with what language is spoken in a gurdwara; and therefore calls upon the Home Office to review immediately the new immigration rules with a view to removing unwarranted English language requirements.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.