A UK government official wants a target date for everybody in England to speak English. Dame Louise Casey is an expert on community interaction. She said a "common language" would help to heal divisions in Britain. She has criticized many governments for failing to focus on integration as England becomes more multicultural. She said politicians have failed to keep up with the "unprecedented pace and scale of immigration" for decades. Many communities are becoming divided. A lack of ability in English is a factor in creating division.
The UK's Communities Secretary revealed that 770,000 people in England speak no English or hardly any. He said up to 70 per cent of those were women, mostly from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. He said these women were at risk from inequality and discrimination. Ms Casey said: "Everybody of working age and of school age should be able to speak one language, and I think the public in particular would feel some relief." Ms Casey's opponents say England should be proud to be a multi-lingual country. It should not force people to learn English if they don't want to.