Is a working knowledge of English essential in order to intergrate into British Society?

The British Government plans to introduce a compulsory English language test for immigrants wishing to marry British citizens and settle in the U.K . The Home Secretary Theresa May said that the new English language test "will help promote integration, remove cultural barriers and protect public services," . Some dissenting voices claim that the new test is deliberately targeted at the UK's Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. At the Marlow Language Centre we champion the importance of language learning. Surely to contribute fully to the society that you live in is it not vital that you can communicate with the indigenous population in their native tongue?