IN reply to John Riseley's letter on immigration (HAS, Mar 31) I wish to make the following points.

Firstly, we have an ageing population. More people are living into their 80s and 90s with fewer children being born. If this continues, we will need more immigration to look after the postwork retired population.

Secondly, at present we have an acute skills shortage. If young people from this country cannot fill all the skilled jobs in years to come, we will need migrants from abroad to do it. Far from being idealistic, those unopposed to further immigration are actually the pragmatists.

Thirdly, there is a long tradition of migrants contributing much to the life of our country. Many UK institutions were actually initiated by immigrants.

People are going to continue to come to our country. Can I suggest that those who find this a problem do one of two things? Either work for better human rights and peace in the world, through organisations such as Amnesty International, or for fairer trade rules and better development in the poorer countries through organisations such as Oxfam and Christian Aid.

Either way, let's get real and take the fear and the scaremongering out of the debate.

Peter Sagar, Newcastle.