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Proposals have been announced to require everyone arriving in the country to meet stricter English language standards, with expectations set close to A-level level to encourage better social and economic integration.

A new free-trade agreement with India, hailed as the largest since Brexit and projected to pump billions into the economy, has raised questions over the balance between potential growth and the risk of undercutting domestic workers.

Ministers intend to tighten entry rules for applicants from nations deemed likely to overstay and claim refuge, aiming to reduce costs and address concerns about misuse of work and study permissions.