A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46

914 915 2 916 3

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.

HOME INTELLIGENCE

July 2nd 1942

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & Cookie Policy Accept & Close