I think I have said a few times in the past that all candidates for entry in to this country, should first serve a spell in either the armed forces or in a NHS hospital. I suggest a period of at least four years. They should by then, be able to speak the language and also have proved their loyalty to their adopted country.

Sometimes I ask myself how many of these immigrants would run back to their own country if a third world war broke out. And after only scoring eight out of ten in this test, will they take me with them?

spuds

I know some British people who have lived in Hong Kong for over twenty years and still haven't bothered to learn any Chinese.

Ditto British people who have lived in France for a very long time, and ditto Italy.

The reason in their case is that many nationals in those countries put themselves to the trouble of learning English; probably because they realise what a lazy, self-obsessed lot we are. They make the effort because they know we won't. It cuts both ways, this language thing.

I think this link is to the old tests, the new tests, as demonstrated by this test in the Grauniad has much simpler questions more relevant to current British life and culture

That's better - 9 out of 10 on the slightly easier Guardian test page. I'm just not familiar with Parliament apparently, but that hardly proves the end of life the universe and everything.

I found some of the questions on the prepareuktest page a little obscure - I just thought who the heck is going to know the answers to these, and little chance the immigrants might know.

Studying for, and then passing, the test is the easy bit. The difficult bit is finding the admin fee for the first stage of citizenship which is £1000. Yes - One Thousand Pounds to check that a form has been completed correctly. Should take perhaps 30 minutes.....

That's a lot a money to find when you earn £6.19 an hour looking after the needs of our very elderly. Even after 5 years.