The Government will implement plans to introduce a points test by 2011 for those who wish to earn British Citizenship, the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson has confirmed.
The decision to introduce a points test for citizenship follows the results of a public consultation on the proposals which were published today.
The results show that three quarters of the public polled during the consultation are in favour of the Government's plans to introduce a points scheme for citizenship.
Mr. Johnson said: "We have already made fundamental changes to the immigration system to control migration in a way that is firm, and has a positive impact on our work force and economy.
"From 2011 we will put the mechanisms in place that will ensure that people who are allowed to become citizens have earned their right to stay here.
"We will do this using a points test, giving us the ability to take clear, enforceable decisions about who should be allowed to stay permanently, with the flexibility to raise or lower the threshold for citizenship, depending on the current interests of the country and economy."
Under the new rules anyone wishing to become a permanent resident will have to earn their right to citizenship. This will restrict the number of economic migrants granted citizenship, for example by limiting it only to those who have the qualifications or skills that the economy needs, or are living in parts of the country where there are specific skills shortages that they can fill.
They will also have to demonstrate that they could speak good English for their application to be successful.
