Lessons must be learnt from race riots that scarred three of Britain's cities this summer, the government will say today.

Home secretary David Blunkett will give his response to the two local reports and the national study into the rioting that broke out in Bradford, Oldham and Burnley in the summer.

Blunkett is set to make a keynote speech on the issue whilst visiting the area of Balshall Heath in Birmingham.

An investigation by the commission for racial equality shortly after the riots concluded agitation by racist groups was only part of the problem; the deeper issue of racial segregation had gone unchecked for years.

The home secretary caused a storm over the weekend by saying that racism will only be eradicated once ethnic minorities "feel British".

In an interview that provoked anger amongst some minority groups, Blunkett said that some cultural practices - such as enforced marriage - had no part to play in Britain.

"We will not tolerate what we would not accept ourselves under the guise of accepting a different cultural difference," he told The Independent on Sunday.

"We have norms of acceptability and those who come into our home - for that is what it is - should accept those norms just as we would have to do if we went elsewhere."

Tony Blair has given his clear support to the home secretary's controversial remarks with Number 10 saying the move was "absolutely right".

Despite strong criticism of his comments, Downing Street defended the minister. "The prime minister's view is that David Blunkett is absolutely right to be focussing on these issues and to be having a debate on them," said a spokesman.

However, Blair's office stressed that the issue had to be "sensitively handled". "You can be British but celebrate your own racial background," said a spokesman.

Early in the New Year, the government is expected to publish a white paper on citizenship and nationality.

The government's move comes amid increased racial tension in a series of hotspots around the country.

Whilst Blunkett accepts that orchestrated racists were behind many of the disturbances, he has let it be known that eradicating racism is a "two way street".

He is urging immigrants to bring their children up in a way which reflects British values.

Calling for "sensitivity rather than political correctness" towards ethnic minorities, he said: "If we are going to have social cohesion we have got to develop a sense of identity and a sense of belonging."

The home secretary has signalled that the government will legislate to ensure that those seeking British citizenship are proficient in basic English.

He has also called on British people to be more open to mixing with people from minority cultures and is calling on them to "celebrate" their own "roots and identity".