Letter to Press

Martin Clarke

118 East Street

Sittingbourne

ME10 4RX

To: Editor

Dear Sir or Madam:

I have been sent a questionnaire from Swale Borough Council, which I filled and returned. The questions relate mainly to the services offered by the Council but I must ask the following questions

1)   Why has SBC offered the services of an Interpreter for 9 different languages? As a Council Tax Payer I do not see how this added cost is justified. Also if someone wishes to live in this country they should be able to speak our language, which is English. This is a Health and Safety Issue if you cannot read English or speak English how can you follow the various signs in the street for example, how can you read labels on items etc.?

2)   One of the questions are you Transgender, what has that got to do with how the Borough is run?

3)   The same reply was to the question “How would you define your sexual Identity” are you 1) Heterosexual (straight), 2) Gay or Lesbian (Gay means Homosexual) 3) Bisexual, 4) Other (please write in the box below), 5) Prefer not answer.  Number 4 left me puzzled.

Has the SBC gone Politically Correct Mad some of these questions should never have been asked, as they are private concerns of the individual plus I wonder how much this questionnaire will cost and what percentage of people will fill it in

Martin Clarke