XML Source Adapter Inserts NULLS Into SQL Instead Of Blanks

I'm working on a new project using SSIS in SQL Server 2005 and have an issue that I need resolved.

I'm loading an XML file into SSIS using the XML Source Adapter. This maps to an OLE DB destination which reads the data into a SQL table (please see below for the table structure). In between this stage is a data conversion to convert the Unicode characters from XML into non-Unicode characters.



CREATE TABLE [dbo].[XMLTest](

[Forename] [varchar](50) COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS NULL,

[Surname] [varchar](50) COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS NULL,

[PostCode] [varchar](50) COLLATE Latin1_General_CI_AS NOT NULL

)



The problem I have is with blank strings in xml are being inserted into the SQL table as NULL values and not blanks (see the xml below).



<Root>
<People>
<Forename>Duncan3</Forename>
<Surname></Surname>
<PostCode>ME16 0WH</PostCode>
</People>
</Root>



Correct me if I'm wrong but a null value in xml means the node does not exist (See the xml below)?



<Root>
<People>
<Forename>Duncan3</Forename>
<PostCode>ME16 0WH</PostCode>
</People>
</Root>



Please also find the schema attached for reference.



<?xml version="1.0"?>
<xschema attributeFormDefault="unqualified" elementFormDefault="qualified" xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
<xs:element name="Root">
<xs:complexType>
<xsequence>
<xs:element minOccurs="0" name="People">
<xs:complexType>
<xsequence>
<xs:element minOccurs="1" name="Forename" type="xstring" />
<xs:element minOccurs="0" name="Surname" type="xstring" />
<xs:element minOccurs="1" name="PostCode" type="xstring" />
</xsequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xsequence>
</xs:complexType>
</xs:element>
</xschema>