WHAT an extraordinary amount of piffle from Blackburn's executive member for citizens and consumer affairs (Letters, August 10).

First, it is of little relevance who pays the bill for asylum-seekers, be it central or local government: it is still extorted from the people in the form of tax by whatever means.

As is usual, the first principle of New Labour is always to pass the buck -- in this case, sinisterly implying that otherwise the Government would have imposed asylum seekers on the town.

If that is the case, why did the council not make a stand instead of running cap in hand to be volunteers?

Now, we have one in every 200 people in the town as refugees and the proportion will be much higher in their relevant age group, for most of them appear to be between 20 and 30.

Since the council has apparently given up on street cleaning and allows rubbish to accumulate everywhere, why not let these 700 do it in return for their keep and a roof over their head? That would be fair and reasonable.

But has anyone asked the refugees whether they want to be in Blackburn? One would have thought that would be the first question asked by the do-gooders.

WALTER MEADOWS, Whalley New Road, Blackburn.