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Town hall snoopers
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http://www.dailymail....y-questionnaires.html
Is it right or even necessary, for some councils to send out these questionnaires in the name of promoting diversity and equality?
/// They are despatched by councils under a requirement to ‘promote and ensure’ diversity under the Equality Act 2010, which was brought in by the last Labour government and consolidated numerous legislation including the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.///
Is it right or even necessary, for some councils to send out these questionnaires in the name of promoting diversity and equality?
/// They are despatched by councils under a requirement to ‘promote and ensure’ diversity under the Equality Act 2010, which was brought in by the last Labour government and consolidated numerous legislation including the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.///
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I had my gas serviced last week, the man left a questionnaire very similar to the one in the link....didnt ask about my sex life but it asked about religion, sexual preference and other stuff... what i did like about it was an option for people in minority groups to become community champions or something so that the minorites were represented
We are becoming obsessed with diversity.
One of my relatives works for a charity, and to get more funding they always have to prove they are doing a lot for ethnic minorites, disabled, poor people etc.
They currently do a lot for all members of society, but the managers always push for doing MORE in the poor areas than the better off areas, even though there are people from all areas of society that need their help.
When producing literature they always have to make sure they put asian, chinese and black people on their brochures and posters or their funding may stop (even though the number of ethnic people is very low in the areas they serve, and even at the expense of taking "white" people of their brochures).
I have noticed this with other organizations as well, like the National Trust.
Seems they every brochure the NT send out has to have at least 2 or 3 people from ethnic groups on it.
One of my relatives works for a charity, and to get more funding they always have to prove they are doing a lot for ethnic minorites, disabled, poor people etc.
They currently do a lot for all members of society, but the managers always push for doing MORE in the poor areas than the better off areas, even though there are people from all areas of society that need their help.
When producing literature they always have to make sure they put asian, chinese and black people on their brochures and posters or their funding may stop (even though the number of ethnic people is very low in the areas they serve, and even at the expense of taking "white" people of their brochures).
I have noticed this with other organizations as well, like the National Trust.
Seems they every brochure the NT send out has to have at least 2 or 3 people from ethnic groups on it.
"We are becoming obsessed with diversity. "
And a jolly good thing, too.
I can't see why any of the things you mention should be a problem. Especially for a charity. Surely a charity, in order to receive funding, SHOULD be showing that it is doing a lot to help poor people.
While some of these initiatives may indeed be open to ridicule, I question the aims and motivation of the Daily Mail and Express, constantly harping on like a cracked record with these stories. All it does it apparently legitimise the targeting of minority groups, get middle Britain tutting and fuming, while those who don't agree pigeonhole the papers as narrow-minded single-issue obsessives, with the result that if they ever DO run a story worth covering half the population at least takes no notice anyway.
And a jolly good thing, too.
I can't see why any of the things you mention should be a problem. Especially for a charity. Surely a charity, in order to receive funding, SHOULD be showing that it is doing a lot to help poor people.
While some of these initiatives may indeed be open to ridicule, I question the aims and motivation of the Daily Mail and Express, constantly harping on like a cracked record with these stories. All it does it apparently legitimise the targeting of minority groups, get middle Britain tutting and fuming, while those who don't agree pigeonhole the papers as narrow-minded single-issue obsessives, with the result that if they ever DO run a story worth covering half the population at least takes no notice anyway.
It doesn't stop there VHG, have you ever noticed on TV news reports, anything regarding schools and they must place in the fore front a pupil from the ethnic minorities.
If say Prince Charles or any other dignity visits a hospital, a firm or the troops, who do they stop and speak to, you've guessed it?
Yes we live in a multi ethnic country, but why do the make it so obvious all the time? I think sometimes it is so patronising to these groups.
If say Prince Charles or any other dignity visits a hospital, a firm or the troops, who do they stop and speak to, you've guessed it?
Yes we live in a multi ethnic country, but why do the make it so obvious all the time? I think sometimes it is so patronising to these groups.
Quite, Ludwig.
Despite many people on this site believing that anything The Daily Mail writes is the work Beezlebub herself.......and its readers are worse, the fact of the matter is that questions concerning one's sexuality, religion or ethnicity have absolutely nothing to do with the council.
All I want from my council is that they are efficient, there is as little wastage as possible and that they start emptying my bin weekly again.
I couldn't give a tinker's cuss about a council's requirement to 'promote and ensure' diversity - All I'm interested in the quality of service I receive. If that means the best people to employ are all one-armed, wheel chair bound lesbian Tongans, then that's fine by me.
Despite many people on this site believing that anything The Daily Mail writes is the work Beezlebub herself.......and its readers are worse, the fact of the matter is that questions concerning one's sexuality, religion or ethnicity have absolutely nothing to do with the council.
All I want from my council is that they are efficient, there is as little wastage as possible and that they start emptying my bin weekly again.
I couldn't give a tinker's cuss about a council's requirement to 'promote and ensure' diversity - All I'm interested in the quality of service I receive. If that means the best people to employ are all one-armed, wheel chair bound lesbian Tongans, then that's fine by me.
Sick of hearing about diversity and equality. People should be judged on their abilites, nothing else and if that means every person in an organisation turns out to be white, so what? As long as they were hired on merit that should be the end of it. It just means that any future job applicants should make sure they are suitably qualified, whatever their colour.
"Sick of hearing about diversity and equality. People should be judged on their abilites, nothing else and if that means every person in an organisation turns out to be white, so what? As long as they were hired on merit that should be the end of it. It just means that any future job applicants should make sure they are suitably qualified, whatever their colour."
Yes, but that isn't the same as reflecting diversity in things like ads etc. Also, when it comes to employment it depends on the jobs. It makes sense for some organisations to reflect the diversity of the communties they are a part of. The police is a classic example of this, also the armed forces.
Yes, but that isn't the same as reflecting diversity in things like ads etc. Also, when it comes to employment it depends on the jobs. It makes sense for some organisations to reflect the diversity of the communties they are a part of. The police is a classic example of this, also the armed forces.
R1Geezer
Think of it this way - if a council sends out a questionnaire asking their local community to give it some ideas about their needs, would that be a bad thing or a good thing?
If the council found that they had a significant number of elderly ratepayers who have special needs, and these statistics could be used when determining how to allocate resources (special bus services, funding for carers
Think of it this way - if a council sends out a questionnaire asking their local community to give it some ideas about their needs, would that be a bad thing or a good thing?
If the council found that they had a significant number of elderly ratepayers who have special needs, and these statistics could be used when determining how to allocate resources (special bus services, funding for carers
funding for carers etc) would that not be a good thing?
If it found out that practically none of it's ratepayers followed Islam, wouldn't you want the council to know this when deciding on application plans for the building of a mosque?
The Daily Mail has focussed on one element of the story, without regard, or even consideration for WHY these surveys are carried out.
How on earth could a survey 'promote diversity'?? You cannot simply make a diverse demographic by surveying it - but you can better understand your constituency by asking it questions.
It's so very, very, very simple - I cannot see what the fuss is.
Slow news day perhaps? Wills and Kate taking a day off?
If it found out that practically none of it's ratepayers followed Islam, wouldn't you want the council to know this when deciding on application plans for the building of a mosque?
The Daily Mail has focussed on one element of the story, without regard, or even consideration for WHY these surveys are carried out.
How on earth could a survey 'promote diversity'?? You cannot simply make a diverse demographic by surveying it - but you can better understand your constituency by asking it questions.
It's so very, very, very simple - I cannot see what the fuss is.
Slow news day perhaps? Wills and Kate taking a day off?
This situation has come about principally because of Harriet Harman’s preposterous Equalities Act. It has to be said that many public bodies and charities were somewhat unhealthily obsessed with such issues before the 2010 Act, but that Act has now given them carte blanche (even, they would say, an obligation) to pry even more into the lives of people they serve.
They are absolutely obsessed with the fear of being accused of treating one section of the community differently to another. Yes, they should treat everybody in the same way but instead of being asked to prove that they are not operating in a discriminatory manner when accusations are levelled against them they are now asked to prove that they are “embracing diversity” all the time. It’s similar to being asked to prove each week or month that you have not committed a crime rather than to prove that you have not only when accused of doing so. You ask why, ichkeria, such things should not be a problem. Well, why they are is because (a) to prove compliance places an increased burden on organisations and business which many of them can scarcely afford (except public bodies, that is, where cash is not an issue because it isn’t theirs) and (b) because there is a long held principle in this country that – with one or two exceptions - you do not have to prove that you have not broken the law.
As usual with such matters, there is an entire industry in the UK built up around this nonsense. If the government is to achieve its pledge to reduce red tape, the 2010 Act and all the accompanying encumbrances should be the first place to start.
They are absolutely obsessed with the fear of being accused of treating one section of the community differently to another. Yes, they should treat everybody in the same way but instead of being asked to prove that they are not operating in a discriminatory manner when accusations are levelled against them they are now asked to prove that they are “embracing diversity” all the time. It’s similar to being asked to prove each week or month that you have not committed a crime rather than to prove that you have not only when accused of doing so. You ask why, ichkeria, such things should not be a problem. Well, why they are is because (a) to prove compliance places an increased burden on organisations and business which many of them can scarcely afford (except public bodies, that is, where cash is not an issue because it isn’t theirs) and (b) because there is a long held principle in this country that – with one or two exceptions - you do not have to prove that you have not broken the law.
As usual with such matters, there is an entire industry in the UK built up around this nonsense. If the government is to achieve its pledge to reduce red tape, the 2010 Act and all the accompanying encumbrances should be the first place to start.
DrFilth
I don't know - I assume if this has happened to you (has it?) that your local council are trying to gather information on the sexual orientation of it's ratepayers...and why? Simple - so they can best allocate funds. Let's say 20% of people who use allotments are gay/lesbian - if the allotments were to be closed for a four week period, the council may consider not only spending money on notices in local papers, but also a proportion of that money in the gay press.
It's about targeting their audience.
Same as with questions on age...how can the council know how best to allocate resources if they don't know about the demographics of it's constituency?
The allotment question may seem extreme, but unfortunately, we cannot know the thinking behind it unless we talk to someone at your local council. Have you ever asked?
I don't know - I assume if this has happened to you (has it?) that your local council are trying to gather information on the sexual orientation of it's ratepayers...and why? Simple - so they can best allocate funds. Let's say 20% of people who use allotments are gay/lesbian - if the allotments were to be closed for a four week period, the council may consider not only spending money on notices in local papers, but also a proportion of that money in the gay press.
It's about targeting their audience.
Same as with questions on age...how can the council know how best to allocate resources if they don't know about the demographics of it's constituency?
The allotment question may seem extreme, but unfortunately, we cannot know the thinking behind it unless we talk to someone at your local council. Have you ever asked?
New Judge
What better method would you suggest to reduce silent bigotry/sexism/homophobia/racism/disability-p
rejudice
(which really should have it's own 'ism' by now).
Not saying the Equalities Act is perfect, but my guess is that those it seeks to promote equality for, are by and large in favour of it, whereas those who have never faced prejudice don't see the point in it...?
What better method would you suggest to reduce silent bigotry/sexism/homophobia/racism/disability-p
rejudice
(which really should have it's own 'ism' by now).
Not saying the Equalities Act is perfect, but my guess is that those it seeks to promote equality for, are by and large in favour of it, whereas those who have never faced prejudice don't see the point in it...?
sp 1814
i don't know if my council ask this i was just wondering what useful meaningful benefit can be had from profiling allotment applicants
i did ask tameside council a couple of questions not about this but another
matter and i found that those who had some kind of position were like
little hitlers
strange how having your name on a door can make you feel so powerful
i don't know if my council ask this i was just wondering what useful meaningful benefit can be had from profiling allotment applicants
i did ask tameside council a couple of questions not about this but another
matter and i found that those who had some kind of position were like
little hitlers
strange how having your name on a door can make you feel so powerful
DrFilth
Confused - has that question actually been raised when applying for an allotment?
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised, because I would expect a standard number of general questions (age, sex, marital status, income, number of kids, period of domesticity), all of which would be useful in determining who gets an allotment.
Say if the Allotments Officer were gay, and all the allotments went to gays and lesbians - using their own records, the council would be able to identify and rectify the allocation process.
Same if all the allotments were going to women or men, or the over 60s.
Everyone paying Council Tax should find part of their rates coming back to them in services.
If I lived in an area which had 75% of residents over the age of 70, then I would not expect the council to be spending money building and refurbishing youth clubs...for example.
Confused - has that question actually been raised when applying for an allotment?
Personally, I wouldn't be surprised, because I would expect a standard number of general questions (age, sex, marital status, income, number of kids, period of domesticity), all of which would be useful in determining who gets an allotment.
Say if the Allotments Officer were gay, and all the allotments went to gays and lesbians - using their own records, the council would be able to identify and rectify the allocation process.
Same if all the allotments were going to women or men, or the over 60s.
Everyone paying Council Tax should find part of their rates coming back to them in services.
If I lived in an area which had 75% of residents over the age of 70, then I would not expect the council to be spending money building and refurbishing youth clubs...for example.
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