Immigrants who want British passports will have to pass a test on life in the UK, the Government said yesterday.

Questions on religion, customs, Government, employment, human rights and law could be included in the exam.

Applicants will also be expected to speak English to a decent standard. If they cannot, they must enrol on a special language course.

The rules could have a significant impact on people who are travelling to Britain to live with family and friends in Bradford's Asian communities. Home Office Minister Tony McNulty put flesh on the bones of the proposals, which were outlined last December.

He said: "We are looking forward to the next stages of the process, which will be the commencement of the requirement that new citizens should demonstrate knowledge of life in the UK."

The test will be based on a guide to the UK, Life in the United Kingdom, a book for prospective British citizens written by Sir Bernard Crick.

The Telegraph & Argus put some of the questions, which were created by the BBC, to shoppers in the city centre and some struggled with the answers.

Jane Turner, 41, a teacher from Great Horton, answered all four correctly.

But she said: "It's a bizarre thing to base a person's validity for being here on.

"I think there should be some kind of screening because we are reaching the limits. But this must not be based on any racist or insular view of what a British citizen should be. It should be more about people's morals and principles."

To qualify for citizenship, applicants must have lived in the UK for five

years without committing a serious offence, or three years if married to a British citizen.