ONCE again Peter Winstanley sets out unfounded statements in the Echo, that curtailing immigration would mean a significant loss of revenue to the country and that it would bring about an increase in taxation etc (HAS, June 13).

Why is it that these comments are never ever backed up by data to substantiate the conclusion?

In my opinion, this is because such data just does not exist, with the real truth that the conclusion that immigration pays being nothing more than a fantasy for do-gooders.

The fact is that each immigrant who occupies a job which could/ should be done by a British citizen, and who is therefore unemployed, costs the taxpayer circa £18,000 per annum in social benefits.

Each immigrant who has children at school is costing the education budget, money for translators, teaching and facilities.

Similarly, there are considerable costs for their health care and other social benefits.

Many other consequential costs exist for immigration, not least the cost of the low pay economy and poor productivity etc .

The pressure for innovation is reduced whenever cheap labour exists, this in turn reduces investment in more productive processes, this then has a detrimental effect on prices.

So please Peter, stop letting your heart rule and get into the real world.

David McKeever, York.