Reduce migrants' entry to get more Brit kids to speak English: Migration Watch chief

London, Aug. 14 (ANI): MigrationWatch chairman Sir Andrew Green has expressed alarm over a report that fewer than a third of schoolchildren in Manchester, one of Britain's largest cities, speaks English as their first language, and blames the problem on the uncontrolled influx of migrants.

Reacting to a survey by the Manchester City Council, which found more than 70 per cent of pupils in three wards has a mother tongue other than English, the Daily Express quoted Green as saying: "This is clear evidence that exactly this is happening in parts of Manchester, as it has already happened in parts of London. The only way forward is to reduce the number of immigrants - just as the coalition government has promised."

The study of Manchester's 32 neighbourhoods called State Of The Wards identifies Longsight, Cheetham and Rusholme as the three where most pupils have a mother tongue other than English.

That compares to fewer than five per cent in the Baguley ward of Wythenshawe.

Jim Battle, the council's deputy leader, said: "For generations this has been a city where people have gathered from all over the world to live, work and study. These many different cultures bring so much to our communities and it is a tradition that works so well, as people continue to share a mutual respect."

The report reveals how the most deprived neighbourhoods have the highest numbers of benefits claimants, worse health and relatively poor school results and attendance. (ANI)