Immigrants from India and other non-European Union countries will be forced to learn the English language before they are allowed to enter Britain, according to new rules being introduced soon.

The move is likely to be welcomed by many in the Asian community here since it would address the anomaly of thousands of people from the Asian sub-continent living in Britain, acquiring British passports, but are unable to interact and integrate with the wider community due to lack of English language skills.

Problems of communication arise when people with no English language skills interact with government officials, post office, the National Health Service and other public services.

The government spends millions of pounds on translation services to facilitate communication with people with no English language skills. There is increasing criticism over allocating huge sums of money for translation by various public bodies.

The new rules, making it compulsory to learn English before being allowed into Britain, are expected to be announced by Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the annual Trade Union Congress Monday. The rules will be specific to potential immigrants from outside the EU.

Explaining the background to the new rules, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told the Sunday Telegraph: "Those who we welcome into the UK to work and settle here need to understand our traditions and feel that they are part of our shared national culture. They need to integrate into our country, learn English and use our language."

In early 2008, Britain is expected to announce a new 'points system' for immigration. Under this, there are three main categories of immigrants coming to Britain from outside the EU to work: highly skilled, skilled and low-skilled workers.

The first two groups can eventually settle permanently in Britain but the third group cannot do so. Highly skilled migrants have been forced to learn English as a condition of entry since last December.

The new rules are expected to be made applicable to all migrants - skilled and low-skilled. Official figures show that of the 96,000 skilled migrants allowed into Britain last year, 35,000 would not have passed an English-speaking test.

International footballers signed by premiership clubs are among the categories who will be will be exempted from the new rules.

Smith added: "At present, people who seek to come to the UK permanently, or as highly skilled workers are required to speak English.

"We want to go further and make speaking English a requirement for all those coming in to the UK to do lesser skilled work and we will be looking at extending this requirement to those who come to the UK to do low skilled work as well."