A History of the Ministry of Information, 1939-46

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APPENDIX
Results of a British Institute of Public opinion
FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

Survey completed on Sept. 20. 1942 .

The following results have been supplied to the Home Intelligence Division. The Survey was not sponsored by the Division, but the results this month are of considerable interest, as they are concerned with matters which have been prominent in our Weekly Reports over the last month.

1. Women's fire-watching

Q: “Do you think that women should be compelled to do fire-watching at night on business premises?”

Yes Yes (with provision) Total saying Yes No Dont know
% % % % %
Total 22 20 42 53 5
Men 23 18 41 53 6
Women 21 23 44 52 4
Age groups
21 - 29 27 22 49 48 3
30 - 49 21 22 43 52 5
50 and over 21 18 39 55 6
Economic groups
Upper 31 23 54 44 2
Middle 20 25 45 50 5
Lower 22 19 41 54 5

Comments

1. Roughly 4 out of 10 are in favour and 5 out of 10 are opposed to compulsory fire-watching for women.

2. There is surprisingly little difference between the attitudes of men and women.

3. Groups showing the highest proportions in favour are young people and the upper income group.

4. The provisos mentioned, in order of occurrence, were:-

a. Provided women can stand it physically and have no home ties.

b. Provided there is proper accommodation.

c. Provided all available men are called on first.

d. Provided they work with men.

e. Provided they do not have to watch in target areas.

f. Provided their compensation for injury is the same as that given to men.

5. Comments among those who thought women should not be compelled to fire-watch included the following:-

a. Many men are shirking, and if all of them are used it will not be necessary to use women.

b. (Chiefly among men) “Fire-watching is no job for women.”

c. (Among women) “I would not like to have to do it”.

2. The Fuel Target

Q: “Have you worked out your fuel target?”

Yes No
% %
Total 16 84
Men 18 82
Women 14 86
Housewives 16 84
Age groups
21 - 29 12 88
30 - 49 16 84
50 and over 18 82
Economic groups
Upper 32 68
Middle 22 78
Lower 13 87

Comments

  1. Roughly 3 people in every 20 had worked out their targets.

  2. The highest figures were in the upper and middle social groups, and the lowest among the young, and the poorer economic group. This result is partly explained by the fact that many of the poor consider that they are already being as economical as possible.

  3. Many people complained that they found the calculations extremely difficult.

A subsidiary question was: “Have you thought of ways to save fuel in your home?”

Could not mention any ways: 41%
Already on bare minimum: 15%
Being careful generally: 14%
Specific ways mentioned: 30%

Heating

Use fewer fires: Live in one room: have fewer baths: keep cinders to use again with small coal: put coke and cinders in tins and burn them: burn all refuse.

Light :

Use less powerful bulbs: remove bulbs from some rooms: have a fine box for leaving lights on.

Other suggestions :

Exchange visits with neighbours: go to bed early: listen to radio in the dark.

3. Part-time war work

Q: “Would anyone in your family be willing to do part-time paid war work if it could be arranged?

Yes No
% %
Total 27 73
Economic groups
Upper 22 78
Middle 28 72
Lower 27 73

Comments

1. Enquiries as to the sex of the person who would be willing showed that:-

Every 4th family contains a willing woman

Every 12th family contains a willing man

2. Breakdowns other than those given above show no significant differences.

4. War Savings Campaign

Q: “Do you belong to a National Savings Group?”

Yes No Object
% % %
Total 55 42 3
Men 51 45 4
Women 59 39 2
Age groups
21 - 29 62 36 2
30 - 49 59 38 3
50 and over 48 48 4
Economic groups
Upper 60 37 3
Middle 60 37 3
Lower 52 45 3

Comments .

1. More women than men, more young people than old, and more of the upper and middle economic groups belong to a National Savings Group.

2. Many of those who did not belong said they preferred to put their money into the Post Office Savings Bank.

5. Duration of the War

Q: “How long do you think the war will last from now?”

Men Women TOTAL June 1942 Dec. 1941 Jan. 1941
% % % % % %
6 months 7 9 8 11 5 7
1 year 25 25 25 28 15 23
18 months 16 15 15 22 13 8
2 years 25 23 24 21 29 18
3 years 11 9 10 7 18 8
Longer 10 9 9 5 16 7
Don't know 6 10 9 6 4 29

Comments

1. In December 1941, the average expectation was just over 2 years. In June 1942, it was about 18 months. In September 1942, it was about 19 months.

2. It appears that as time moves on, so people push forward their expectation of the end of the war.

HOME INTELLIGENCE DIVISION

8th October, 1942

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