People try to make this sharp distinction between political refugees and economic migrants but it is much more blurred than that

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"People try to make this sharp distinction between political refugees and economic migrants, but it is much more blurred than that," Mr Hardwick said. Airlines are fined thousands of pounds if they bring in passengers who do not have correct immigration papers and most prefer not to take the risk, refusing to carry some passengers.Increasing attempts to smuggle illegal immigrants into Britain are a by-product of the breakdown of political systems or ethnic violence in regions such as the former Yugoslavia or Soviet Union. One of its concerns is that because immigration control is increasingly taking place outside the country, people are being prevented from travelling to Britain legitimately. In some cases, people have been told falsely that they can climb into the aircraft through the wheel bay." He added that the Government should crack down on those operating illegal immigration operations but treat the immigrants themselves with compassion.Nick Hardwick, of the Refugee Council, said the organisation was researching the scale of the problem. "There is a global increase in the number of racketeers who take advantage of desperate people who want to flee persecution, war or deep poverty," he said."They take money from these people and then send them into situations which put their lives at risk.

He has always been keen to support the affairs of the two governments ... and no doubt any further visit would take place on that basis.". The body of a stowaway was found yesterday in the undercarriage of an aircraft that had flown for nearly seven hours from one of the former Soviet republics. Louise Jury hears immigration organisations' fears that stowing away in dangerous places is on the increase. The British Airways 767 arrived at Gatwick Airport direct from Baku in the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan on Friday night and a man's body was discovered when maintenance checks began yesterday morning. The incident is the latest case where stowaways have attempted to sneak on to an aircraft via the undercarriage. Evidence suggests that in many cases they have been told by racketeers that they will be able to creep up into pressurised baggage holds or the passenger deck for the flight.A British Airways spokeswoman said yesterday that an investigation had been launched into the incident: "Obviously, we will be talking to the authorities in Baku."Claude Moraes, director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said risky attempts at immigration were increasing.

The Unionist deputy lord mayor of Belfast, Jim Rodgers, said: "Quite clearly he is intending to come here to try to influence as well as interfere in our affairs and I think he has as many problems of his own in America."Party leader David Trimble was dismissive of the proposed visit: "I can quite understand his desire to be away from Washington," he said.Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Dodi McGuinness said the visit would be "welcome", although privately Sinn Fein sources said there were "several hurdles to get over" before they could envisage a presidential visit to seal any agreement.Mark Durkan, of the SDLP, said: "We would welcome this as an indication of the President's on-going commitment to the peace process here. Before the Sixties there werearound 100,000 cases a year and just a handful of asthma-related deaths.Asthma is the only treatable chronic condition in the Western world which is on the increase. The number of children with the disease has doubled since the Seventies, with on average 155 admitted to hospital every day.There were more than 100,000 hospital admissions due to asthma attacks in 1993 - a 7 per cent rise on the previous year.Annual prescriptions for asthma treatments almost doubled in the years 1982 to 1992 with the cost of NHS treatment rocketing from pounds 50m to pounds 350m during that time.Asthma is caused by chemicals in the body which cause airways to tighten when asthmatics come in contact with certain allergens.. Bill Clinton's offer to visit Northern Ireland as the peace talks enter their final stage this May met with a mixed response in the province yesterday. The United States President gave an assurance to Tony Blair during their Washington talks that he was willing to go to Belfast if the peace process stays on track. His visit would probably take place in mid-May - the time the deadline for agreement which has been set. Sinn Fein and the Social Democratic and Labour Party welcomed the possibility, but the Ulster Unionists accused the President of interfering at a crucial time in the peace process.

It uses a "willingness to pay" method for assessing the impact of pollution on people's lives rather than assessing only the costs of treating pollution-related health problems.The figure of pounds 11bn is obtained by multiplying the number of pollution- related illness events (days of cough, asthma attacks, etc) and premature deaths by people's willingness to pay to avoid the risk of them happening.Epidemic of the modern worldThree-and-a-half million people in the UK are estimated to suffer from asthma, including 1.5 million children aged 2 to 15.In 1995, around 1,621 people in the UK died as a result of the disease - one person every five hours. By blocking the action of the leukotrienes, inflammation is reduced and the tubes in the lung opened up, allowing the patient to breathe more easily.In addition to helping people with chronic asthma, the new drug will be used to help stop asthma attacks brought on by exercise.The suffering, illness and premature death caused by air-pollution from road traffic is costing at pounds 11bn a year, according to the British Lung Foundation.The report says one-third of the population is susceptible to the effects of pollution, including young children, pregnant women and the chronically ill. It is essential to talk with your doctor to find out if it is going to be appropriate for you."The new drug is targeted at leukotrienes, chemicals in the lungs that produce asthmatic symptoms by causing the muscles in the airways to tighten, the cells to produce extra mucous and the lining to become inflamed. It is intended as an add-on treatment, to be taken with existing drugs, to reduce day and night-time attacks.Trials of the drug, to be sold under the brand name Singulair, have shown it cuts attacks in people with moderate asthma by half when taken with inhaled steroids. Domestic abuse knows no social, cultural or racial barriers and this survey shows us that society is out of touch."With millions hoping a secret admirer will be unveiled on February, women are being told to watch out for the tell-tale signs of men who use attentiveness and charm to manipulate and control.The survey has also unveiled an "inaccurate" picture of abuse victims - 40 per cent of the 975 people interviewed believe women enjoy being beaten. Seven out of 10 also think some women provoke domestic violence.Attitudes to punishment for wife beaters also remain out of kilter, according to Refuge.

Some 68 per cent of men believe a drink-driver should be automatically sent to prison, whereas only 45 per cent think an abuser deserves the same punishment. The charity says that while many women are unable to leave their homes, it takes great strength to live with an abusive man. Refuge estimates that one in nine women are severely beaten by their male partners Sandra Horley said: "While people continue to believe these myths and ignore the problem, they continue to endanger women's lives on a daily basis.". The first drug in two decades to offer a new way of controlling asthma symptoms is launched today.