A Bradford MP told the Prime Minister that too many children are starting school unable to speak English.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins said more needed to be done to tackle the growing problem which in turn led to lower educational attainment levels.

Mr Hopkins, a former leader of Bradford Council, said: “Sadly in Keighley too many children start school and do not speak English. Does the Prime Minister agree with me there is a responsibility and an obligation on parents to make sure their parents speak English?”

David Cameron said: “I completely agree, and the fact is in too many cases this is not happening. The last Government did make some progress on making sure people learned English when they came to our country.

“I think we need to go further and if you look at the figures for the number of people brought over as husbands and wives particularly from the Indian sub continent we should be putting in and we will be putting in place tougher rules to make sure they do learn English, so when they come, or if they come they can be more integrated into our country.”

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