Hansard

Social Surveys

Volume 436: debated on Wednesday 16 April 1947

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Mr. Sharp

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will give details of the work carried out by the Social Survey Department of the Central Office of Information.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

The principal surveys made during last year were as follow:

  • (a) Survey of Sickness.—Regular morbidity surveys for the Registrar General which provide the basis for official illness statistics.
  • (b) Retail Trade Statistics.—At the request of the Board of Trade the Survey is engaged in enlisting panels of independent traders who are willing to supply details of their monthly sales to the Board of Trade. This information is used to compile a trade index for independent traders.
  • (c) Recruitment to Mining.—Studies in the main coal-mining regions to determine the main attitudes to coal-mining amongst potential young recruits and to prepare the basis for a recruiting campaign
  • (d) Scottish Mining Communities.—A study of the social factors involved in the migration of miners from worked-out mining areas to new developing coal fields.
  • (e) Shop Hours.—A study of the most convenient shop closing hours, for a Home Office Committee considering new Shop Acts.
  • (f) The Demand for Carpets and Furniture. —Studies for the Board of Trade working parties of potential demands for these commodities and of public attitudes towards utility furniture.
  • (g) Recruitment to the Civil Service.—A survey for the Treasury of attitudes of potential recruits to employment in the Executive and Clerical grades of the Civil Service.
  • (h) Road Safety.—Studies for the Ministry of Transport of the effects of the publicity campaigns
  • (i) Employment of Older Persons.—A study of the Medical Research Council of the occupations followed by Older Persons and of the social factors connected with their retirement from work
  • (j) Willesden Town Planning Survey.—A study of the social changes in Willesden which are involved in the movement of sections of its population to one of the new towns.