The Government announced this week its plan to make English lessons a priority for those with a weak grasp of the language in segregated communities.

Skills Secretary John Denham said too many long-term residents lack the English skills they need to communicate with their neighbours.

But Liz Westmorland, regional manager of the Yorkshire & Humber Regional Migration Partnership said many courses were too focused on the English of the workplace, which was not appropriate for social integration into the community.

"Any measure which improves access to English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) training for those who need it must be welcomed – language skills are a fundamental of effective integration," she said.

"However, this is not a cure-all. There are already long waiting lists for ESOL training throughout the region. Many of the courses focus on English for the workplace at the expense of skills needed for wider social integration.

"I fear that unless there is new money to support these proposals, there will still be many people who do not benefit."

Migrants who can afford to pay will be expected to meet the costs of up to 37.5 per cent of their £900 course fees.

Asylum seekers who are still in the country awaiting a decision on their claim six months after arriving and those who cannot return home will be entitled to free lessons.

Other priority groups identified by the Government include mothers from unemployed families and those "raising particular issues for community cohesion".

Julia Kendall, ESOL co-ordinator for the Bradford and District Learning Partnership, said the state of funding for courses was already in a bad situation.

"Over the past three to four years we have shown concern and written letters to MPs over ESOL funding," she said.

"Our concern is about community cohesion and there is a huge demand for English language courses in Bradford, but there is still a way to go.

"There is a significant variety of different needs – the requirements of an educated doctor are different from those of unskilled migrants."

But Skipton MP Philip Davies challenged the whole notion of giving lessons away freely to every new immigrant.

"For people who are already here, we do need to ensure that the people are given the proper training – it should be compulsory to attend classes.

"But for those people who are not yet here, they should not be allowed to migrate until they have learned the language, rather than us having to pick up the pieces when they are here.

"There is a huge problem here in the Bradford district with people who cannot communicate because they lack a basic grasp of the English language."

Mr Denham announced that funding for ESOL courses will be "more specifically targeted to foster community cohesion and integration in our communities" in a speech on Thursday.

His department's paper said the expansion of the EU and the UK's traditionally tolerant attitude to immigrants had fuelled demand for ESOL courses.