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What price to pay for integration?

Dec 16 2007 by Caroline Smith, Sunday Sun

OVER 12 months ago, I stood in the council chamber and asked why we spent so much taxpayers’ money producing translations of so many public documents and leaflets into languages such as Urdu, Hindi, Bengali and the like.

I felt such a policy only hindered integration and was an unnecessary burden on the taxpayers.

Any child at school whose parents could not speak or understand English must surely be at a disadvantage.

Nobody took me up on this. A few months ago, I had a letter published in a local newspaper, again asking for the council to look at this and pointing out the actual cost in millions to the tax payer. Again, nobody took me up on it. I am hoping that the advice now being given to all councils by Hazel Blears with regard to this might just kick start someone into action — JOAN McTIGUE, Independent councillor, Middlesbrough.

I agree that the best way to promote integration and create a level playing field for all our diverse communities is to immerse everyone into our language and culture.

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