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5
in 28 days. December, it may be remembered, was abnormally dark
owing to fogs in the upper atmosphere. There were only 7 days on
which sunshine could be measured, amounting to only 13 hours. The
lowest temperatures were found in March and November.
Population.
In a Memorandum from the Ministry of Health dated the 28th
January, 1931, it is suggested that, in the absence of any computation
of the population for the Mid-Year 1930, by the Registrar General, who
is desirous of basing this estimate on the Population as ascertained by
the 1931 Census, the Report of the Medical Officer of Health should not
be delayed on this account, but that the estimated population for MidYear,
1929, might be used.
The rates, therefore, concerning Vital Statistics have been calculated
upon this old figure. Should, however, the corrected figure be available
before this report is put into circulation, the revised figures will accordingly
be inserted.
Births.
The births registered in Westminster during 1930 numbered 1,689,
but of these the homes of 843 were in other districts and 16 were
registered under the Legitimacy Act, and have therefore to be deducted
from the total. There were, however, 538 children belonging to
Westminster parents born in institutions outside the City, and these
must be added. This gives a net total of 1,368, which is 11 more than the
similar figure for 1929.
Women whose homes are outside the City continue, in increasing
numbers, to avail themselves of the facilities for confinement which the
large general hospitals in the City offer. The number in 1919—mostly
women whose home address was in easy reach of the hospital,
although in some neighbouring borough—was only 98. This figure has
risen to 843 in 1930, and includes not only women from the various
metropolitan boroughs but also from the counties around London.
It will be observed from Tables I and II that the registered births are
11 more than last year.