WOULD Christopher Wardell (HAS, Oct 3) please explain if Britons are migrating because immigrants are taking all the jobs, from where do they get so much money that they can afford the cost of migrating to the other side of the planet?

Equally, why did applications from Britons to Australia increase after Neighbours and then Home And Away were first broadcast? Why did the same happen to New Zealand with the release of Lord Of The Rings - was it because people saw what New Zealand was really like?

Work, retirement, a new start elsewhere, etc, have always been reasons for migration. But given the way this country is now with the main political parties all trying to be politically right of centre, combined with an increase in support for the far right, maybe they're migrating because they know their history.

CT Riley, Spennymoor.

CHRISTOPHER Wardell's comments about medical and nursing posts in the NHS (HAS, Oct 3) are simplistic and impractical in the short to medium term.

Those in possession of facts will tell you that the NHS medical training posts are open only to UK graduates and the other posts filled from a pool of migrants from non- EU countries via an employerauthorised permit system. Those doctors who came to the UK prior to the current procedure did so by invitation of health authorities, under the watchful eye of the then Health Secretary (one Enoch Powell). Most of these doctors work in specialties and geographic locations unattractive to indigenous applicants.

It should be remembered that it takes an average of ten years to train a senior doctor (hospital consultant or a GP).

The philosopher, David Hume, observed that "reason is the slave of the passions" but propounding emotive cures for the ills of our cherished NHS can only be counterproductive.

We live in a rapidly shrinking world and must necessarily exchange goods and services across borders. We can only survive by knowledge-based and prudent global solutions, not by myopic outbursts.

In the meantime, we should be grateful for the services of all doctors and nurses who look after us in the hour of our need, regardless of their country of origin.

Abdul Jaleel, Darlington.

PETE Winstanley claims that immigrants tend to be young and pay taxes (HAS, Oct 1). The answer to this is that immigrants are human beings and eventually grow old (gasps of amazement). A couple of years ago liberals were claiming that immigrants could support pensions, until they tumbled to the obvious point that immigrants do not enjoy eternal youth.

Next, he claims in relation to the costs that immigrants impose on the NHS, that France and Spain do not grumble about the medical costs of British expats (HAS, Oct 1). France and Spain have actually been complaining loud and clear, and drastically cut down on healthcare available to Brits in early September.

He then claims that taking immigrant doctors saves us a fortune. Well of course: which means this training costs poorer countries a fortune.

Does he have any other clever wheezes for making the poor even poorer?

Ralph Musgrave, Durham.