REGARDING the remarks of Mr D Parker in "Let's all quit and live on the state," (Letters, August 2), I can say categorically that Blackburn with Darwen Council has not purchased and has no intention of purchasing any properties to house asylum seekers.

As part of the changes to the system of supporting asylum seekers and refugees, it was decided to disperse people all over the country, to ease the burden on London and the South East. Asylum seekers are dispersed by the Home Office and would have been sent to Blackburn with Darwen whatever the council decided to do.

In November 2000, after full consideration of the issues, this council, as part of a consortium of other North West authorities, entered into a contract with the Home Office to provide support and accommodation to asylum seekers. The money for this support comes directly from the government and not from council tax.

The council has 123 properties across the borough, which it uses for this purpose and the properties used by the council are rented from registered social landlords.

The Home Office quota of asylum seekers in the borough has been set at 0.5 per cent of the population. Of a population of some 140,000 in Blackburn with Darwen, there are no more than 700 people accommodated by both private sector providers and the council.

I would remind Mr Parker and others that share his views that the reason we signed the 1951 Geneva Convention regarding refugees is due to the terrible atrocities carried out by the Nazi regime in the 1930s and 1940s. We have an obligation to avoid that kind of persecution and to help those fleeing persecution, wherever that may be.

This week, leaflets have been distributed to many people in this borough trying to raise people's fears about asylum seekers and refugees. I deplore these tactics and would point instead to the positive contribution that people of all backgrounds have made to this borough for many years.

I do understand that people have a number of concerns, but misinformation and lack of understanding of the circumstances in which people seek asylum does not add to the debate.

COUNCILLOR MAUREEN BATESON, Executive member for Citizens and Consumer Affairs, Blackburn with Darwen Council.