London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
East Ham 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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VI - SHOPS ACT 1950 AND ALLIED LEGISLATION
| A. Shops | 1960 | 1961 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of shops in the Borough:- | ||
| Open | 1,909 | 1,902 |
| Closed | 108 | 125 |
| Totals | 2,017 | 2,027 |
| Number of shops visited for inspection and advice re-closing hours and employment of staff | 1,617 | 1,473 |
| Number of inspections under Section 38 (Health and comfort of shop assistants) | 721 | 427 |
| Number of instances where conditions were found to be unsatisfactory | 81 | 43 |
| Number of cases where records were found to be unsatisfactory following inspection | 301 | 175 |
| Number of visits made in connection with closing hours of shop | 3,659 | 1,794 |
| Number of shopkeepers cautioned for failure to observe provisions regarding hours of closing | 137 | 82 |
| Number of prosecutions of shopkeepers for infringement of Shops Act - serving customers outside permitted hours | 1 (fined £2) | 1 (fined £1) |
Evening closing hours are on the whole well observed, but some difficulty is met when dealing
with the small general stores and confectioner/tobacconists remaining open after 8 p.m. for
the sale of confectionery, ice cream and mineral waters.
There are six Local Closing Orders in the borough, fixing Thursday as the Early Closing
day with Saturday the alternative.
Although Saturday is the day fixed as the late day when shops may remain open until
9 p.m., Friday is the most popular with the public and some shops remain open until 7.30
or 8 p.m. whereas on Saturday, they close at 6 p.m. or earlier.
B. Minor Excise Licenses
Late evening observations were carried out during the year in connection with Refreshment
House licenses and 25 visits were made in 1960 and 12 in 1961 as a result. Occupiers advised in
each case.
C. Domestic Servants Registry
| 1960 | 1961 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of persons registered | 2 | 2 |
| Number of new registrations included in above figures | 1 | 1 |
D. Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952 and Consumer Protection Act, 1961
The Consumer Protection Act became operative in August 1961, and revoked the Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Act, 1952 and the Oil Burners (Standard;) Act 1960. The Heating Appliance Regulations 1953, remain effective.
| The details of work under these Acts were as follows:- | 1960 | 1961 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of observations and visits | 1, 209 | 1,428 |
| Number of unsatisfactory appliances found | 18 | 17 |
| All the unsatisfactory appliances were second hand. |