This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7521408.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| New rules tackle forced marriage | New rules tackle forced marriage |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| The rules for people bringing in spouses to the UK from overseas are to change - in an attempt to tackle forced marriages. | The rules for people bringing in spouses to the UK from overseas are to change - in an attempt to tackle forced marriages. |
| The age limit will be raised from 18 to 21 and the foreign spouse will have to sign an agreement saying they will learn English before coming to the UK. | The age limit will be raised from 18 to 21 and the foreign spouse will have to sign an agreement saying they will learn English before coming to the UK. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says forced marriage is "a terrible thing". | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says forced marriage is "a terrible thing". |
| UK citizens who are going to marry foreigners will also need to register their intention before leaving the UK. | UK citizens who are going to marry foreigners will also need to register their intention before leaving the UK. |
| This will mean a young person will know in advance that a marriage will take place overseas and who their prospective partner will be. | This will mean a young person will know in advance that a marriage will take place overseas and who their prospective partner will be. |
| Language checks | Language checks |
| The UK Border Agency will get a new power to revoke people's right to stay in the country if they are deemed to have abused the marriage visa system. | The UK Border Agency will get a new power to revoke people's right to stay in the country if they are deemed to have abused the marriage visa system. |
| Agency staff will also be given guidance to help them spot any risk of abuse and spot those who might be vulnerable to being forced into a marriage . | Agency staff will also be given guidance to help them spot any risk of abuse and spot those who might be vulnerable to being forced into a marriage . |
| And the agency will check that spouses from overseas who signed up to an agreement to learn English are fulfilling their promise. If they are not, their leave could be cancelled. | And the agency will check that spouses from overseas who signed up to an agreement to learn English are fulfilling their promise. If they are not, their leave could be cancelled. |
| Forced marriage leads to victims suffering years of physical and mental abuse and - in extreme cases - unlawful imprisonment and rape Dominic GrieveShadow home secretary | |
| Ms Smith said: "Forced marriage leads to victims suffering years of physical and mental abuse and - in extreme cases - unlawful imprisonment and rape. | Ms Smith said: "Forced marriage leads to victims suffering years of physical and mental abuse and - in extreme cases - unlawful imprisonment and rape. |
| "It has no place in our society. The government is determined to do everything it can to stamp it out and to ensure that victims receive the help and support they need. | "It has no place in our society. The government is determined to do everything it can to stamp it out and to ensure that victims receive the help and support they need. |
| "That is why we are raising the age limit for visas, checking anyone entering into a marriage does so of their own free will and demanding that those coming to the UK learn English." | "That is why we are raising the age limit for visas, checking anyone entering into a marriage does so of their own free will and demanding that those coming to the UK learn English." |
| Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said the government was following the Conservative lead on the issue of raising the minimum age for foreign spouses to 21 and pre-registration for young women going abroad to be married. | |
| He said: "Whilst we welcome the fact the government has adopted 80% of our policies, we are concerned about their proposal to 'ask' people to enter into an 'agreement' to learn English. | |
| "We would have a requirement that the spouse must a basic knowledge of English before they came to the UK. | |
| "It would be unfair and impractical to allow someone to come here on the promise that they will learn English and then remove them if they can't." |