Privacy fears over survey (From Salisbury Journal)
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Privacy fears over survey
9:52am Thursday 10th February 2011 in News By Morwenna Blake
A SURVEY sent out by Wiltshire Council asking people to confirm personal details such as their sexuality and how much money they have in the bank has been raising eyebrows.
The eight-page document has been delivered to 26,500 households across the county in order to help the council develop its housing and planning policy.
The survey, reported to be costing the council £22,000, also asks people questions about their levels of debt and what academic qualifications their children have.
One recipient of the survey was Jack Leeming of Bower Gardens, who said: “This latest council bandwagon is, no doubt, costing thousands of pounds. Let us hope its advocates can distinguish between a bandwagon and a hearse.”
Another recipient, who asked not to be named, said: “What an intrusion into privacy, what a waste of money, what a cheek.
“This is not what we pay such high council tax for.” A council spokesman said responses will help in planning how much affordable housing is needed in the county.
The questions on sexual orientation are “required by legislation”.
A statement said: “We need to gather information now, to make informed decisions about the kind of homes people want, need and can afford in the future.
“To do this, we are working with a professional marketing company, which devised this survey. All the information the council receives will be anonymous.”
The spokesman added that anyone who feels uncomfortable with any of the questions can leave them out.
Campaign group Privacy International has questioned the need for such detailed questioning.
The consternation over the survey comes on the heels of a public outcry over the council’s handling of an alleged racist remark by a member of a health group.
Examples of questions included in the survey:
* Please tick the total gross income of your household, including state benefits, allowances and tax credits
* Please state your sexual orientation * Please tick your total net household savings or debt
* Where do you and your partner work?
* All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole nowadays?
pirkka says...
5:26pm Wed 16 Feb 11
The public housing provided by the council is paid for out of the public purse.
The council is legally obliged to allocate housing without discriminating against tenants on the basis of factors like sexual orientation. I'm sure there would be an outcry if the council were accused of such discrimination and had no facts with which to back up its decision - but of course, that's not quite such an attention-grabbing story.
If you asked that Council to explain the legal requirement and they didn't do so, that's a pity, but it's a failure of communication, not an assault on civil liberties.
If you didn't ask them, or they told you but you didn't include that information in your article, that reflects badly on the Journal.