JonMc
Striker
The requirement that non-EU immigrants speak English was introduced by Labour, certainly for Tier 2 immigrants under the Points Based System. Under PBS, non-EU migrants except in Tier 1 must have a sponsor. The tiers are:
Tier 1 - for highly skilled workers, such as scientists and entrepreneurs
Tier 2 - for skilled workers with a job offer, such as teachers and nurses
Tier 3 - (currently suspended) for low-skilled workers filling specific temporary labour shortages, such as construction workers for a particular project
Tier 4 - for students
Tier 5 - for temporary workers, such as musicians coming to play in a concert, and participants in the youth mobility scheme.
This system was introduced about 3 years ago IIRC was based on the highly-regarded Australian system.
And should have been introduced much, much sooner.