No I don't, but I'd be very surprised if it was greater than the low hundreds per year, and probably more like in the low tens.
But then, the number of people emigrating to the UK from outside the EU is also small (not as small, clearly), mostly because we already make it fairly hard to get in unless you have a job to come to. Which means that we are already not importing "any Tom, Dick or Harry", we're importing smart people who have useful skills to share in the UK (and be taxed upon the profits thereof!).
I have nothing against requiring people to speak the native language if they want to move in, it seems a rather minimal requirement.
The linked article was not talking about the original immigrant, but that immigrant's family. Of course if you're coming to the UK you will almost certainly be required to speak English in your job, but if you are that immigrant's spouse or child, then there is a far less immediate requirement. It is substantially easier (and cheaper) to study ESOL in the UK than anywhere else in the world, particularly if you are a child.
But then, the number of people emigrating to the UK from outside the EU is also small (not as small, clearly), mostly because we already make it fairly hard to get in unless you have a job to come to. Which means that we are already not importing "any Tom, Dick or Harry", we're importing smart people who have useful skills to share in the UK (and be taxed upon the profits thereof!).
I have nothing against requiring people to speak the native language if they want to move in, it seems a rather minimal requirement.
The linked article was not talking about the original immigrant, but that immigrant's family. Of course if you're coming to the UK you will almost certainly be required to speak English in your job, but if you are that immigrant's spouse or child, then there is a far less immediate requirement. It is substantially easier (and cheaper) to study ESOL in the UK than anywhere else in the world, particularly if you are a child.
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