BEFORE readers decide on rival political plans for immigrants ('Immigrants health plan', February 15) they should consider the factors driving immigration.

Immigrants from developing nations want to come here because they have not the remotest hope of earning a decent wage in their own countries. The hellish exploitation by gangmasters they encounter nevertheless results in a better life and allows them to send something back to their families.

The total amount of money sent home to the families of immigrants is twice the amount our Government gives in foreign aid.

There is much talk of G7 plans to reduce debt owed by the countries of Africa to free up trade and to increase aid.

All that is necessary. But after years of World Bank loans, the involvement of Western companies in their economies and of partial debt relief, the standard of living in Africa has fallen year after year for the last 20 years.

We all need to know that the economic conditions imposed by the West make no provision for people to earn a decent living wage; no attempt to stop child labour; no bid to provide even a basic social security system.

They are designed to allow sophisticated global companies to compete with such local companies as exist.

As a result it puts them out of business and lowers the already minimal standard of living.

Our governments and global companies have created a state of affairs in Africa where most people have either to live on 50p a day, or look to emigration of a member of their family as their only hope of a better life.

What would you do?

Maurice Vassie,

Cartmans Cottage,

Deighton, York.

Updated: 09:20 Friday, February 25, 2005