LG.
FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY.
APPENDIX II
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SECRET
Some statistical results and long term trends
.
The following results were obtained by the British Institute of Public Opinion in a survey conducted in the latter half of December 1941 on a sample of the usual size. For comparative purposes, the results of early surveys (when the same questions were asked) are given in some cases.
1.
The Length of the War
.
Q. “How long do you think the war will last?”.
Result:
Under 6 months
6 - 12 months
1 - 1½ years
1½ - 2years
2 - 3 years
Over 3 years
Don't know
Jan. 1941
7%
23%
8%
18%
8%
7%
29%
Dec. 1941
5%
15%
13%
29%
18%
16%
4%
The increasing expectation of a war of over 2 more years bears out the qualitative findings in the Home Intelligence Weekly Reports.
2.
Problems facing the Government
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Q. “What do you think is the most important war problem the British Government must solve in the next few months?”
Result:
Nov. 1940
Mar. 1941
Aug. 1941
Dec. 1941
%
%
%
%
Production and organisation of resources
5
4
12
29
Organising our manpower
-
-
6
11
Maintaining food supplies
12
16
11
8
Submarine warfare and shipping losses
8
28
6
6
Invading the continent
4
5
17
5
Defence against night bombing
12
6
9
1
Production and the organisation of manpower have loomed increasingly large in the public mind, while food, shipping, and night bombing have steadily declined.
3.
Shopping Difficulties
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Women were asked:
“Do you have difficulty in finding time to do your shopping?”
Result:
Yes
No
Total:
45%
55%
Breakdown by approximate age:
21 - 29
51%
49%
30 - 49
42%
58%
50 and over
36%
64%
Women in employment
58%
42%
That nearly sixty percent of employed women experience difficulty in finding time to do their shopping shows the size of the problem - which has frequently been recorded in Home Intelligence Weekly Reports. The steady decrease in difficulty associated with increasing age is probably explained by the greater number of younger women in employment, or with young children on their hands.
4.
Regulation 18B
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Q. “Have you followed the debate in the House of Commons on whether the Home Secretary should be able to order imprisonment without trial (Regulation 18B)?”
Result:
Yes
No
.
Total:
51%
49%
Men
67%
33%
Women
37%
63%
Economic groups:
Higher
79%
21%
Middle
63%
37%
Lower
45%
55%
It is usual to find a much higher proportion of men than of women, and of high rather than lower economic groups, taking an interest in Parliamentary Debates. It is surprising, however, that the total figure should be as high as fifty percent, as the subject has not been reported in Home Intelligence qualitative studies as one arousing spontaneous interest.
In answer to a supplementary question to those who followed the debate as to whether or not they approved of Mr. Morrison's decision, it was found that 54% approved, 28% disapproved, and 18% could express no opinion. The percentage of approval was greater in the upper economic groups.
Note
: The above results are subject to the usual sampling errors. There are certain other sources of error, the effects of which cannot be estimated. In comparative figures, these sources of error will be reduced to a minimum.
