Sir,

Richard Sennett (Universities need your Titians, 8 March) is right to calculate the contribution that foreign students make to our universities, both culturally and financially. The increase in recent years will stand us in good stead in the future as they return to positions of influence in their own countries – provided of course that they do go home.

The measures proposed by the government have been widely misrepresented. They are primarily aimed at cutting bogus students who come here to work illegally and undercut the wages of British workers. Universities themselves will hardly be affected, especially if suitable arrangements can be made for foundation courses. They would do well to cooperate in stamping out abuse which, in the longer term, can only damage the reputation of our higher education sector which is an invaluable part of our economy and society.

Frank Field MP and Nicholas Soames MP

Co-chairs of the Cross Party Group on Balanced Migration