YOU were right to highlight the fiasco of overpayments on tax credit and child tax credits (Echo, May 25).

There are so many anomalies and loopholes in the welfare system that it cries out for a serious overhaul.

Take unemployment benefit. This country has millions of unemployed, many are more than happy to claim cash without making any effort to seek employment, yet asylum seekers upon arrival in our country are only able to claim 70 per cent of the money we throw at the jobless.

Added to that, our visitors are told they cannot work. As a result, they struggle, and have no spare cash for luxuries or holidays.

When the overpayments mentioned above are paid back it should be forwarded to the asylum seekers, to make some parity towards the equality that our democratic society is founded upon - the very reason they have chosen this country as a safe haven.

Joe Wellthorpe, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough.