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47
Premises and Occupations Controlled by Byelaws and Regulations.—The
preceding Table No. 33 summarises the number and character
of premises and occupations in the borough which are controlled by byelaws
and regulations. Underground rooms and underground sleeping
rooms, although controlled, the former under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936, and the latter under the Housing Act, 1936, are not registered.
Further reference to these premises and occupations will be found in
the Sections of this report dealing with " Inspection and Supervision of
Food and Housing."
Eradication of bed bugs.—One hundred and twenty-three premises
were found to be infested with bed bugs, 31 being owned by the Borough
Council and 192 owned privately. In each case disinfestation was
carried out. The work of disinfestation is carried out by the staff of the
Borough Council.
The methods employed for freeing infested houses from bed bugs
consist of fumigation with Sulphur dioxide and the employment of
contact spraying with an insecticide. Where necessary, owners are
called upon to remove or loosen wooden fittings and strip walls in order
to assist fumigation.
The furniture of each tenant removing to a Council Flat is subjected
to treatment in a specially constructed Cyanide Van before entry into
the new Flat.
During the year the furniture of seventy-two tenants was treated in
this way.
Cyanide fumigation is carried out by the Westminster City Council,
under an agreement with the Borough Council.
Factories, Workshops and Workplaces.—The Medical Officer of
Health is required under Section 132 of the Factory and Workshops
Act, 1901, to include in his annual report details of the administration of
this Act in his district. The total number of factories, workshops and
workplaces on the register at the end of the year was 217. The number
of inspections of these premises was 260, which compares with 289 in
1936. Sanitary defects were found in 25 instances. The following
Table No. 34 is in the form requested by the Home Office in order to
ensure uniformity in the presentation of returns:—