GOVERNMENT cuts could deny Selby's flourishing Polish population vital English lessons, the town's Labour MP has claimed.

John Grogan criticised the Government for changing its policy on English language courses, so that from September only people claiming certain benefits would qualify for free tuition.

And even then, they would first have to complete a 16-page form.

Currently courses are free for all.

A huge number of Polish people have settled in the Selby area and form an important part of the workforce at some of the district's major employers.

Mr Grogan branded the changes "short-sighted."

He said: "I'm not saying migrant workers should not make some contribution, but my fear is the effect of this policy will be that a lot less migrant workers will learn English.

"Most do not claim benefits and aren't desperately well paid, so they're not necessarily going to be able to afford expensive fees.

"I have met a lot of people who have gone to Selby College and have been very keen to spend almost every spare moment they have got learning English and communicating with their workmates."

Mr Grogan said he recognised the financial constraints, but thought a better policy was available.

"There are pressures on the education department because there are clearly more migrant workers taking up these opportunities," he said.

"Maybe there's a role for employers to make a contribution and share the burden."

In November, The Press reported on Selby College's thriving English language scheme.

Speaking at the time, Liz Ridley, adult and community education manager at the college, said: "In the last two years we've seen a massive growth in the number of Poles enrolling for English as a second language courses.

"We've found that a lot of the people that come to us have had a good education in Poland but, because they can't speak English, they have to take lower paid, more menial jobs than they would at home."

Bogdan Bednarczyk, 25, who runs Polish shops in Selby and in York, said the policy would have negative effects.

"I think perhaps 20 per cent of the people learning English will continue doing it at home, but the rest will probably give up," he said.

"When I came to England the only way to deal with anything was to communicate in English.

"Now, because there are more Polish people, you don't have to speak English, which makes it more difficult to learn."