THE importance of projects that have been set up to improve the language skills of non-English speakers in our multi-cultural society cannot be overstated.

As minister Lord Ahmad says, the integration of many different communities into such a society is one of the biggest challenges facing Britain today, so the praise he has heaped upon a number of successful projects in the Bradford district should be fully endorsed.

Such schemes are not about imposing learning on those who have limited knowledge of English, but helping them to improve their understanding. Without language skills, adults will find it difficult to either belong fully to the community, and difficult to do day-to-day tasks like booking a doctor’s appointment, visiting the job centre, talking to their children’s schools, or even going to the shops.

It will also mean they will not be able to contribute as fully as they might to society.

With 140 or so different languages used in Bradford’s schools, and recent figures showing that for more than 40% of primary school age children English is a second language, it is an issue of some concern.

Anything that can help new arrivals, and those who have been here for years, but have been unable or unwilling to learn English, must be welcomed. Adults with poor English skills put themselves at a huge disadvantage and may also bequeath the same disadvantages to their children.

Schemes like those visited by Lord Ahmad yesterday must be fully supported – and be fully accessible to everyone who needs them.