For a change, some good news. A detailed study of attitudes towards integration and community relations in Birmingham has found that most of us believe the outlook is bright.

The study found that a clear majority of Birmingham residents, from all backgrounds, believed that race relations are in a good state.

Most of us socialise with people from different ethnic groups, and there is a widespread belief that diverse communities are preferable to separation.

The Barrow Cadbury Trust, which commissioned the report, concludes that for most Birmingham residents, a plural, cosmopolitan city is working.

This will chime with what most people already know. Birmingham is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and one of the most successful.

Many of us work alongside or socialise with people from a diverse range of backgrounds. It is far from unusual for families to include people of different ethnicities.

And far from being a problem, this is a situation which people take for granted. It is one of Birmingham's strengths.

The report also reflects the divisions and concerns which exist. Again, it will probably not come as a surprise to learn that a minority, but a significant one, believe race relations are poor.

And there is widespread cynicism about Government initiatives designed to boost national identity. What people want instead, displaying a good measure of common sense, is more opportunity to mingle, with greater emphasis on facilities and sports clubs aimed at every section of the community.

The report also challenges a few stereotypes by confirming that the desire for more contact with people from different backgrounds is shared by all ethnic groups.

The Barrow Cadbury Trust also looked at attitudes to immigration, which is really a separate topic to the attitudes of settled British people towards each other.

Here, the findings were far less positive. There is concern about the effect immigration is having on job opportunities and on public services.

Once again, although there was some variation in attitudes between ethnic groups, immigration is a controversial issue in every part of the community. It is wrong to assume that only white people are worried about it.

The report exposes the scale of the challenge facing the Government, which must balance the needs of the economy with the demands of the public, while conforming with EU treaties and human rights legislation.