THE recent response of Peter Winstanley to my previous letter (HAS, June 25) ignores the argument that I made regarding the indirect (or consequential) costs of immigration.

I am well aware that there are various organisations that have come to the conclusion that immigration pays so far as this country is concerned. However, I am also aware that the simplistic model that they use to arrive at this conclusion is flawed.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the indirect costs of immigration are ignored.

For example, the costs of providing translation services in the public sector, including schools, is about £1bn per year. The costs of providing health care etc is also a massive number, and reduces the quality of care for British subjects.

So far as the effects of immigration on GDP and investment are concerned, it was apparent in the 1940s and 1950s that the availability of low cost labour was reducing the pressure on employers to both innovate and invest.

The situation is the same today where immigration has led to a low wage economy, leaving many workers with earnings below the poverty level and working on zero hours contracts I am very surprised that Peter uses the Office of Budget Responsibility to support his argument for immigration as that organisation’s record on forecasting is even worse than my forecasting at Catterick races.

The statement that the employment rate has remained fairly constant over the past 20 years may be correct, but the unemployment rates during that period have fluctuated much more than would have been the case if immigration had been at a lower rate.

Finally, the population figures and forecasts that have been issued this week show a massive increase over a relatively short time period, and if they continue into the future must pressurise politicians to do something that brings about a significant reduction in net immigration.

Ukip represents the only real hope at the present time but I am certain that the pressure from the electorate in 2015 will change the policies of the other political parties, except perhaps for the Lib Dems, but they are doomed anyhow.

David McKeever, York.