By Mark Davies BBC News Online political reporter

The UK is not seen by asylum seekers as "a land of milk and honey" - but simply as a safe place to take refuge from persecution, according to a government-commissioned report.

The findings... suggest the need for a more benign and better-informed debate about this type of migration

University of Wales report

The study says its findings "directly challenge some of the views surrounding asylum seeking that have been reported and exacerbated by the popular media" and the idea of it being "a problem, burden and a cost".

The research also suggests that the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Manchester United and the Beatles are more influential than benefits and immigration law when asylum seekers try to enter the country.

Desires

The Home Office-commissioned report, which examines why asylum seekers try to enter the UK, says the primary reason for coming to the country for most was simply the hope of finding a place of safety after fleeing persecution, violence or threats.

It says: "The findings that asylum seekers are ordinary people driven by ordinary desires (such as wanting to live in a democracy which allows free speech) suggest the need for a more benign and better-informed debate about this type of migration."

And it goes on: "Some daily newspapers have created the impression that the UK is a 'soft touch' being targeted and 'inundated' by 'waves' of carefully calculating asylum seekers who weigh up the welfare benefits on offer in different countries and go to the most generous."

The study suggests there is limited evidence of any detailed knowledge of what sort of benefits or immigration procedures they could face on arrival in the UK - and that most asylum seekers did not want to be dependent on the state.

The primary factors in choosing the UK ahead of other countries were whether asylum seekers had friends or relatives in the UK and the belief that it was a safe, tolerant and democratic country.

Quality of life

Links between their own country and the UK, including colonial ties, were also said to be important as was their ability to speak English or a desire to learn.

The study suggests asylum seekers would rather work than claim benefits

But only a "tiny minority" of cases chose to leave their native countries - and family, homes, jobs and possessions - specifically because they wanted to live in the UK. "Actual or perceived persecution was the impetus for migration," the report says.

It goes on: "For many, life in the UK meant a reduction in their perceived quality of life, and immense cultural and linguistic barriers. The UK was certainly not viewed as a land of 'milk and honey'.

"There was very little evidence that the sample respondents had a detailed knowledge of UK immigration or asylum procedures, entitlements to benefits in the UK or the availability of work in the UK.

"Most of the respondents wished to work and support themselves during the determination of their asylum claim rather than be dependent on the state."

'Menu'

The research was conducted by Vaughan Robinson and Jeremy Segrott of the migration unit at the University of Wales.

Would-be immigrants have been found under Eurostar trains

They acknowledged that with only 65 interviews, the sample was too small to be fully representative, but said their research added to the evidence about asylum seekers and challenged perceptions about them.

Many of those asylum seekers asked had approached "agents" in their native countries once they had decided to flee.

Agents would offer them a priced "menu" of possible destinations. One man travelled from Iraq to Turkey by car, lorry and donkey and then came to the UK in an articulated lorry at a cost of $3,500.

Another left Afghanistan on foot through the hills and was then taken by road to Moscow in a journey that took more than two months.

'Iron Lady'

The respondents said agents recommended the UK because of its attitudes and policies towards asylum seekers and the fact that English was spoken.

When asked about their impressions of Britain and cultural images which may have influenced their decision to come to the UK, some mentioned William Shakespeare and the Sherlock Holmes novels.

Many respondents were aware of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher and "her label as the 'Iron Lady', her personality and demeanour reinforcing a sense of the UK being a powerful country".

The royal family - and particularly Princess Diana - were also mentioned, the latter in her capacity as an "international ambassador" campaigning against landmines.

Older respondents mentioned the Beatles, while the "progressive and tolerant" nature of the UK was apparent for younger respondents in the music of the Spice Girls.

Manchester United was used as an example of the UK's reputation as a successful and wealthy country.

Interviews were conducted with asylum seekers from 13 countries. They included shop workers, teachers, engineers, lorry drivers and hospital workers.

The interviews were conducted in South Wales, Birmingham, the Tinsley House detention centre near Gatwick airport, London and Crawley.