WITH reference to the Letter from Westminster (Advertiser, May 28) the comments on asylum seekers are somewhat at odds to those quoted in the national press.

The actual number of new arrivals has fallen slightly but still they come.

In order to justify the boast by Government regarding the reduction by September of substantial numbers, then in excess of 30,000, work permits were issued to illegal immigrants, thus deliberately fudging the numbers, since those with such permits are not included in the statistics to make them more politically acceptable.

This gave an entirely incorrect appreciation of the true figures.

In a blaze of publicity, it was trumpeted that Afghans had been flown back to their native land, some 30 odd, in a chartered plane with a capacity for 220 normal passengers, at the taxpayers' expense, which was not disclosed, but it was not cheap.

There are approaching something like 300,000 illegal immigrants in this land of ours, the vast majority provided for at your expense, estimated at £3.5 billion a year, or £65 for every man, woman and child in Great Britain, every year or £110 for every working person.

For which we get nothing, but we cannot afford to fund our schools with teaching staff made redundant.

To this must be added the record £30 million spent on the trial of eight Afghans who held up and threatened the crew and others, at gunpoint, have spent two years on benefits at about £30,000 each and when the trail failed, were awarded £125,000 each compensation and are still here.

It is beyond belief that such can happen.

Now an illegal immigrant sews up his face and is granted permission to stay.

There is little sympathy in general for this influx. The people who make the most noise are in a minority.

It is feasible the total expenditure for this unwanted plague that has invaded our land could approach the £4 billion mark.

Full details are not forthcoming and much of the true cost is hidden, or not accounted for, such as delays to transport, camps (£90 million for one burnt down by its inhabitants), housing, schooling, police control, administration and more.

Add to this little lot the cost of an illegal war, lost aircraft and materials and the priceless lives of our servicemen, then we could be looking at over £10 billion or more

Then we arrive at a figure approaching £400 for each person, or £8 per week or £500 with tax.

Education, Education, Education. NHS, NHS, NHS - so why can't we afford them without the millions stolen by the Chancellor for private pension funds and wasted by Government?

WMJ CAIRNS

Astwood Bank