HC Deb 11 March 1952 vol 497 cc1262-5
57. Mr. Albu

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will publish a list of the subjects investigated by the social survey during the last two years; and the Departments for whom the work was undertaken.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the social survey reports undertaken during the last two years, and of the Departments for whom they were undertaken.

Mr. Albu

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether these investigations have made a contribution towards the economy and efficiency of administration?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Some have in a considerable degree, and some perhaps in a rather less degree

Following is the list:

SUBJECTS INVESTIGATED BY SOCIAL SURVEY, 1950–1952
Subject Description Commissioning Department
Older People's Diets To investigate the nutrition of elderly people and by reference to other inquiries to show the association of diets and health amongst old people. Ministry of Health.
Survey of Adolescents To investigate the educational and vocational background and the spare-time activities of the adolescents with a view to providing information relevant to the functions and interests of departments. Ministry of Labour and Service Departments.
Recruitment to Civil Defence. This survey was carried out in order (a) to discover the general reaction to the subject of civil defence and the effectiveness of the publicity exhibited up to the date of the survey and (b) to decide which were the most effective lines to follow in future recruiting programmes. Home Office.
Employment of Elderly Workers. To investigate the proportions of elderly people in employment, the nature of their occupations and associated factors as well as their attitudes to employment and remaining at work after retiring age. Ministry of Labour.
Festival of Britain An inquiry into the state of knowledge of and opinion about the objects of the "Festival" with special reference to local activities. Festival of Britain Office.
Medresco Hearing Aid To investigate the use made of the aid with view to improving the system of instruction or servicing. Ministry of Health.
Utility and the Public A survey of the attitudes of the public towards the Utility Scheme. Board of Trade.
Sound in Dwellings To investigate, under actual daily living conditions, the extent to which a new type of party wall reduced the amount of noise heard in local authority housing. D.S.I.R.
Hamilton Housing Survey. An inquiry into the housing problems of older people. Department of Health for Scotland.
Audience Reaction to the film "The Undefeated." To examine fears expressed by cinema exhibitors that this film about disabled ex-servicemen might upset audiences and have adverse effects on recruitment. The report showed these suggestions were unfounded, and led to wide commercial showing. C.O.I.
Independent Traders Index. The enrolment of a panel of independent traders who would volunteer to give information about their monthly sales so that a sales index could be constructed. Board of Trade.
Use of Stationery Supplies. To provide information about the use and supply of stationery in Government Offices for a review of the work of Stationery Office being undertaken by Organisation and Methods Division of the Treasury. Treasury.
Young Children's Diets An inquiry to determine the nutritional level of children under the age of 5 years. Ministry of Health.
Local Authority Tenants To investigate how far tenants of local authority houses in Scotland would be interested in purchasing their own houses or other local authority houses. Department of Health for Scotland.
Audience Reaction To examine the reception and effects of three recruiting films exhibited in cinemas. C.O.I.
Colonial Affairs To investigate public knowledge of Colonial Affairs Colonial Office.
Telephone Directories To investigate the actual use made of London Directories with a view to deciding whether they could be withheld from subscribers without great inconvenience or greatly increasing calls on the directory inquiry service. General Post Office.
Birmingham Productivity Exhibition An inquiry made to find out: (a) the nature of the audience at this exhibition; (b) the practical results accruing from their visit amongst a sample of visitors called on some three weeks later. C.O.I.
Night Baking To investigate the possible effects on consumers of stopping the baking of bread at night with view to facilitating the work of the Departmental Committee on Night Baking. Ministry of Labour.

Subject Description Commissioning Department
Scientific Manpower A pilot study of the present distribution of science graduates made with view to showing whether the Scientific Civil Service is recruiting its necessary share of the better graduates, and obtaining the reasons given for not entering the Civil Service. D.S.I.R.
Effects of a Local Road Safety Campaign. An inquiry designed to measure the effects of the campaign on road users' behaviour on the roads and their attitudes to road safety problems. Ministry of Transport.
Welfare Foods An inquiry made to discover the extent to which mothers and expectant mothers make use of the Ministry of Food welfare products and the difficulties they have in obtaining them. Ministry of Food.
Borstal Studies To analyse available information on the history and background of a sample of Borstal cases with view to tracing the effects of Borstal treatment and indentifying the classes of offenders most likely to respond to treatment. Home Office and Prison Commissioners.
Parliament Past and Present. To examine the reception and effects of the exhibition designed to illustrate the history and functioning of Parliament. C.O.I.
Domestic Heating To investigate fuel consumption and expenditure on heating in low cost dwellings with view to implementing the result of laboratory experimental work on heating. D.S.I.R.
Diphtheria Immunisation To investigate new problems in the Diphtheria Immunisation with special reference to fears of the suggested association of poliomyelitis and diphtheria and the effects of temporary suspension of the campaign. Ministry of Health.
Dissemination of Scientific and Technical Knowledge. A pilot study to measure the flow of scientific information to industry with view to improving the work of the Technical Information Service of D.S.I.R. D.S.I.R.
Consumer Expenditure Series. To investigate spending habits in special fields in order to assist the compilation of published accounts of National Income and Expenditure and, in particular, to examine, on the basis of small experimental inquiries, the technical problems involved in conducting the forthcoming large scale official Cost of Living Budgetary inquiry. Central Statistical Office and Treasury.
Survey of Sickness Statistical studies on a national scale designed to show the incidence of ill-health and injuries as well as the use made of the medical service. Registrar General's Office.
Studies of Public Knowledge of the Economic Situation. Investigations into the extent of public understanding of the main economic issues and knowledge of the associated facts Treasury.