[Margaret Pilkington]

Well Margaret, I am glad you said that because we were randomly chosen to participate.
I sent back the letter declining, but tonight the interviewer turned up at our door.
I told him that I had contacted Natcen and told them I would not participate...he said that he hadn't been told about that(I told him that I couldn't be held responsible for their administrative inefficiency).....and then went on to ask why I didn't want to participate. I told him that it wasn't(as far as I was aware) compulsory, and that I didn't have to justify my reasons to him.

He told me that this survey was to help plan Health services for the future......and went on to say that if I was knocked down I would expect an ambulance to cart me off to hospital......I told him that of course I would, seeing as I had paid my taxes and national insurance all of my life.
He then went on to say that many people would feel priveleged to have their opinions considered.(?) I told him that that was their prerogative, and that mine was not to participate...he clearly was not taking 'no' for an answer.
He asked why I didn't want to participate....I told him that I didn't want to share personal information with him.....'what about your husband?'...'neither does he' I told him.

In the end I had to be quite firm(bordering on rude) and tell him that I would not discuss this any further.

I am currently toying with the idea of contacting Natcen by phone to give them a piece of my mind.......himself says I should just forget about it....and that I can't afford to be giving away bits of my mind.
I will sleep on it.