Sir – Justine Garbutt’s statement that immigration increases unemployment and stretches the welfare system is somewhat precarious (Letters, August 16).

The only way to properly answer such a question is through reputable research conducted impartially by experts; in a recent research study undertaken by the respected National Institute of Economic and Social Research, immigration was found to have no effect on unemployment (www.niesr.ac.uk/pubs/searchdetailprint.php?PublicationID=31251 ).

It should be borne in mind that, in days of Empire, our country colonised a large chunk of the world, the links of which are still retained through the Commonwealth.

I suspect that an inclusive immigration policy is a part of our country’s status and responsibility as a post-imperial nation.

Daniel Emlyn-Jones, Oxford