APPENDIX II
British Institute of Public Opinion
SECRET
FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY
Survey results for June 1942, supplied to
Home Intelligence Division, Ministry of Information.
The following results of a survey made by the British Institute of Public Opinion, in the days immediately preceding June 15, has been kindly supplied to us. This Survey was not sponsored by Home Intelligence.
1.
Holidays at home
Q. a. “Are you taking a summer holiday this year?”
Yes
No
%
%
Total:
48
52
Men
50
50
Women
47
55
Age groups:
21 - 29
64
36
30 - 49
52
48
50 and over
42
58
Economic groups:
Upper
49
51
Middle
58
42
Lower
47
53
b. (If yes) “What are you going to do?”
June 1942
April 1939
%
%
Stay at home, gardening
21
3
Visiting relatives
6
1
Seaside
5
27
In country, rambling, fishing, farming
9
18
Cycling
1
2
Occasional odd days off from work
1
-
Motoring, yachting, cruising
-
6
Miscellaneous, undecided
5
2
48%
59%
2.
Old age pensions
Q. a. “The basic rate for Old Age Pensions is 10s. per week. Should Old Age Pensions be increased, or should they remain at their present level?”
Increased
94%
Same
4%
Don't know
2%
b. (If increased) “To what figure per week?”
15s. or over
100%
20s. or over
78%
25s. or over
32%
30s. or over
18%
35s. or over
5%
3.
Professional sports
Q. “Should professional sports be continued during the war, or should they be stopped till after the war?”
Continued
Stopped
Don't know
%
%
%
Total:
44
45
11
Men
51
43
6
Women
37
47
16
Age groups:
21 - 29
51
37
12
30 - 49
45
45
10
50 and over
39
48
13
Economic groups:
Upper
50
45
5
Middle
44
47
9
Lower
43
45
12
4.
The Daily Worker
Q. a. “Do you know about the ban on the Daily Worker?”
Yes
No
%
%
Total:
79
21
Men
89
11
Women
70
30
Age groups:
21 - 29
75
25
30 - 49
80
20
50 and over
80
20
Economic groups:
Upper
89
11
Middle
88
12
Lower
76
24
b. (If Yes). “Should the ban continue, or should the Daily Worker be allowed to appear?”
Continue ban
Publish
Don't know
%
%
%
Total:
37
43
20
Men
38
48
14
Women
37
38
25
Age Groups:
21 - 29
29
46
25
30 - 49
38
45
17
50 and over
40
40
20
Economic groups:
Upper
56
31
13
Middle
42
46
12
Lower
32
46
22
Comments
:
1. These results demonstrate a possible source of fallacy in the direct questioning method. Our qualitative studies show that the subject of the Daily Worker is arousing very little interest. Although, when asked, 80% of the public are ready to express a view, this expression gives no indication of the strength with which these views are held.
2. The upper and middle social classes are considerably more aware of the ban than the lower social classes. Women and young people are also less aware of it.
3. Among those who are aware of the ban, the proportion who have no opinion (20%) is high. It is highest among women, the younger age groups, and the lower income groups.
