MP George Mudie may well welcome the figures, but he should be expected to know that they shroud the truth. The figures quoted only refer to those who are currently awaiting a decision on their claim. They do not acknowledge the growing number of people forced into destitution by government policy.

At Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS) we expect to have over 5,000 visits (including repeat visits) from asylum seekers to our twice-weekly 'drop-in' in 2008: Many from people who are trying to amass further evidence for their case after their initial claim has been refused. They do so whilst forced into absolute poverty; without the right to work, with no home, and severely restricted access to statutory services. Some estimates suggest that there are up to 3,000 destitute asylum seekers living in Leeds alone. It is abhorrent that they are so readily written out of existence.

Christine Majid and Jon Burnett, Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Not my job

Coun Robert Finnigan (Letters, August 26) credits me with a job I do not possess. I am not agent to Ed Balls MP and never have been, that job belongs to another.

Neither am I chairman of Morley North Labour Party, that job too belongs to another. I am chairman of Morley and Outwood Labour Party.

Neil Dawson, Morley

Taxi standstill

The City Square end of Briggate is looking like a car park or the M25 at a standstill every day. Taxis are jamming the road queuing to get into the rank on the station.It causes problems for other drivers and pedestrians. Surely the council or police are aware of it and doing nothing about it

P Greenfield, email

Wrong target

single people are to be spied on for claiming discount on council tax – why pick on these people, mostly workers or pensioners, to save a couple of hundred pounds a year?

If they spied on so-called single mums claiming rent and all their council tax plus living expenses, whilst men live with them but claim benefit from other addresses, I'm sure the Government would save thousands per year.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD