§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions are made for teaching English as a second language to asylum seekers in the UK. [16773]
§ Angela EagleCurrently there is no provision to teach English to asylum seekers who are not of compulsory school age. In his statement on 29 October my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set out his proposals for a radical reform of the asylum process, including the creation of accommodation centres. Accommodation centres will provide a range of services, including purposeful activity for adult asylum seekers, which could include English language lessons. Details of the services that will be available in accommodation centres will appear in the White Paper, which my right hon. Friend also announced on 29 October.