Immigrants to get 'behaviour packs'

The packs will contain information on social rules - including teaching immigrants how to queue in shops - and common values such as respect for the law.

Ms Blears also set out new guidance aimed at making sure public money is being used for projects targeted at whole communities not just one ethnic group.

The Government believes projects such as separate youth clubs for black or Asian children could entrench division between different communities.

The guidance is being issued in response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, which conducted a wide ranging 10-month review into the major challenges caused by increasing diversity.

Councils will be urged to produce information packs for new migrants telling them their duty to integrate into British life and contribute to the economy to help avoid community tensions.

The packs would set out social rules such as queuing in shops, not playing music loudly, not spitting, not touching people without their permission and not littering.

Under the new guidance, people awarding taxpayers' money to projects will have to consider if schemes provide opportunities for people from different backgrounds to mix or whether they inadvertently create divisions.

The guidance for councils and other public bodies is being published for consultation.

Ms Blears said: "Diversity remains a real strength of this country enriching our national life. But creating strong, united communities is something we need to keep working at."