Sir – You report (December 11) that nearly half of all births in Oxford are to mothers not born in this country.

You also report that we need to build tens of thousands of homes to accommodate Oxford’s expanding population.

The evidence that immigration is the biggest single factor driving pressure on maternity services, health provision, schools and housing is overwhelming yet so many of our politicians find it difficult to discuss this issue. It would be interesting to speculate on how much the massive increase in house prices and rents in this area over the last 10 years or so can be attributed to the net increase in migration. A subject for academic research, perhaps?

Lawrence Kelly, Headington Quarry