The British government called Friday for a cut in the amount of translation of public information and signs into foreign languages, to help boost use of English among immigrants and migrant workers.
Communities secretary Hazel Blears said the "automatic translation" by some public bodies sometimes reinforced the language barrier, stifling opportunity and preventing integration of non-English speakers. "Translation can never be a substitute for learning English and we need a fundamental rebalancing of our approach putting a greater focus on learning English," she said in a statement.
The move follows a controversy last year after media reports that municipal councils could be spending as much as 100 million pounds (139 million euros, 203 million dollars) on translation costs, sometimes unnecessarily. Blear's department published guidelines for councils setting out a "common sense" approach to translation, pointing out that not all documents are legally required to be offered in other tongues.
Concern has been expressed that some public information is being translated into languages not spoken in the local area, or where demand for documents is low, and that routine road signs are being given in Polish.
The promotion of English fits into Prime Minister Gordon Brown's desire to promote a common British sense of identity in the face of an increasingly diverse population, particularly from eastern European countries.
The government said Wednesday it wants English language tests for foreigners looking to marry Britons and live here. Tests for those taking British citizenship were brought in November 2005 and for people who want to settle since April this year.