A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46

11

ADDENDUM ON MATERIAL EVIDENCE OF COMPLACENCY .

1. Since the entry of Russia into the war, these reports have recorded a high level of complacent talk and apparently complacent thought among a large section of the public. In order to see if this was reflected in action, information was sought from a number of Government departments. Some have not yet supplied definite details, but so far there has been no convincing evidence that complacency has reflected itself in action.

2. The Ministry of Labour reports that there has been no appreciable change in the amount of absenteeism in the past six weeks, as compared with the six weeks before that.

3. The War Office gives the following figures for A.T.S. recruitment:-

Date . Applications . Enrolments .
Apl. 6 1,284 606
Apl. 13 904 588
20 * 885 613
27 1,366 687
May 3 1,600 857
10 1,368 818
17 1,313 771
23 1,164 709
30 1,214 666
June 6 1,188 588
14 1,530 512
21 3,050 1,036
28 3,899 1,639
July 5 3,811 2,217
12 * 3,278 2,255
19 2,986 2,368
26 2,596 1,940

* From April 20th to July 12th recruiting campaigns have been in progress.

It will be noted that the recruiting figures for the past 6 weeks are the highest so far recorded.

4. The Ministry of Health has supplied the following figures for school attendances in London:-

Date Increase
May 17 140
24 150
31 180
June 7 450
14 400
June 21 2,000
28 1,300
July 5 2,300
12 2,700
19 2,200

The increased figures in attendances may reflect an increase in returning evacuees. On the other hand, they have coincided with a drive by the L.C.C. to increase school attendances of children already in London.

5. It is hoped shortly to receive additional information from the Admiralty (recruiting figures for W.R.N.S.), from the Air Ministry (recruiting of W.A.A.F.S.), and from the Ministry of Supply (some indices of production).

Home Intelligence.

30th July, 1941

12

REFERENCES .

1. Northern Region (Newcastle) Weekly reports from R.I.O.'s.
2. North Eastern Region (Leeds)
3. North Midland Region (Nottingham)
4. Eastern Region (Cambridge)
5. London Region (London)
5x. Special London reports.
6. Southern Region (Reading)
7. South Western Region (Bristol)
8. Wales (Cardiff)
9. Midland (Birmingham)
10. North Western (Manchester)
11. Scotland (Edinburgh)
12. South Eastern Region (Tunbridge Wells)
13. Northern Ireland (Belfast)
14. Special Reports from R.I.O.'s.
15. M.O.I. Speakers' reports.
16. Local Information Committees' reports.
17. Home Press Summaries, M.O.I.
18. Regional Press Summaries.
19. Hansard.
20. Postal Censorship.
21. Telephone Censorship.
22. Police Duty Room Reports.
23. Mass Observation.
24. War-Time Social Survey.
25. B.B.C. Listener Research Papers.
26. B.B.C. Special Papers.
27. Citizens' Advice Bureaux
28. W.V.S.
29. Scottish Unionist Whips' reports.
30. Liberal Party Reports.
31. Economic League's reports.
32. W.H. Smith's questionnaires.
33. War Office Post Bag Summaries.
34. Primary Sources.

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