Letter: Work permits

It has been reported that Home Secretary Theresa May will impose a strict limit on the number of non-European Union work permits that can be handed out.

The level of the final cap, due to be introduced next April, will be decided after talks with business leaders and economic advisers.

However, in a move that dithering Labour would never have had the courage to make, Ms May will introduce an immediate interim cap to stop non-EU immigrants trying to get to Britain and accessing the present welfare benefits and social housing policy. Well done Ms May and could I suggest one other policy that would deter these immigrants? Announce that there will be no welfare payments and no social housing given to immigrants until they have worked for at least five years and paid significant taxes in each of these years.

Those immigrants who take low-paid jobs and pay no taxes should not benefit from the social housing and welfare benefits that we have all contributed to for many years.

With 2.5 million people out of work in the UK, the next hurdle for Ms May will be restricting EU immigrants.

CLARK CROSS

Springfield Road

Linlithgow, West Lothian