I refer to the letter from Mr Sampson which stresses the importance of getting the facts straight in last week s Postbag ( You can fool some of the people some of the time ). He has suggested that the Council has entered into a deal to move immigrant

I refer to the letter from Mr Sampson which stresses the importance of getting the facts straight in last week's Postbag ('You can fool some of the people some of the time').

He has suggested that the Council has entered into a 'deal' to move 'immigrant families' to the head of the housing queue.

Let me reassure the people of Barking and Dagenham that no deal of this kind has ever been in place in our borough.

We operate a More Choice in Lettings policy which ensures everyone is treated fairly and equally without discriminating against any group of people.

If a person is legally entitled to live in Britain they are judged under exactly the same criteria as everyone else.

In the context of a declining housing stock of our own the Council is working very hard with private developers, housing associations and our own shortly to be formed Local Housing Company to provide more new homes and choice for local people.

Stephen Clarke,

Divisional Director of Housing

Barking and Dagenham Council