ON two successive Thursdays Julian Cole has given us the benefit of his wisdom on the immigration question.

We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief because we have it from the horse's mouth, JC's, that immigration is "under control".

On what information does he base this sweeping statement when even members of the Government admit to having no idea how many illegal immigrants are in the country?

Last week the Migration Research Unit at University College London predicted the population of this country will increase by six million in the next 30 years and that five million of that figure will be made up of immigrants and their dependants. Is this Julian Cole's idea of control?

As for the ubiquitous Ben Drake, (Letters, April 14), he cannot hear the word immigrant without getting on his soapbox. He gives the impression we should not be allowed to discuss the matter, let alone do anything about it. May we be spared any more utterances from him until after the election?

By the way, he did not answer Mr Leeming's question (Letters, April 11). What other country in the world would permit a mass influx of unskilled people and then proceed to food, clothe and house them and their dependants for the rest of their lives?

Liz Standing,

Battleflatts Road,

Stamford Bridge, York.

Updated: 10:52 Friday, April 29, 2005