The Cabinet Office has published its response to the consultation on a draft code of practice on the new duty for public authorities to ensure that their workers in customer-facing roles speak fluent English. Part 7 of the Immigration Bill 2016 establishes a new duty on public authorities to ensure that their workers in customer-facing roles speak fluent English and in Wales, fluency in English and/or Welsh. Most consultation responses were neutral, though respondents collectively agreed that there should be no language barrier for citizens accessing public services. The Government will therefore continue with the approach proposed in the consultation, but have committed to make changes to the code of practice, as set out in pages 19 to 26 of the response document, to ease implementation. 

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