SIR - In response to Dr Ali's comments about the existence of barriers within our society (T&A, May 8), I would like to state a few facts taken from research I recently conducted about race and ethnicity in the UK.

Firstly, children from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds showed the lowest percentage of GCSE/A-level qualifications upon leaving school partially due to weak aspirations held by parents for their children but mainly due to family background.

Pakistanis from Mirpur showed lower upward mobility than other ethnic groups as they spent a lot of their money in the early years travelling to Pakistan to visit their families, thus leading to less economic success and eventually ending up in a lower social class. This difference in class has therefore had a knock-on effect on today's generation.

If barriers existed, how has it been possible for children of Indian (Hindus and Muslims) and black African backgrounds to end up in more professional occupations than those of Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds?

If Dr Ali requires my information sources, I will gladly provide them.

Ashiya Hussain, Arncliffe Terrace, Bradford