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NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACTS. 1948/1962
(a) National Assistance Act. 1948 - Section 47. and. National Assistance
(Amendment) Act. 1951 - Section 1.
Removal to Hospital and/or Institution of Persons in Need of Care
and Attention.
During the year action was necessary under the provisions of
the above Acts for the compulsory removal of an aged and infirm
person who was in need of proper care and attention. This case
concerned an old lady, aged 86 years, who was living alone in
insanitary conditions, and was suffering from the effects of selfneglect
and malnutrition.
(b) National Assistance Act. 1948 - Section 21.
Provision of "Part III" Accommodation.
It is the duty of a local authority, subject to and in
accordance with the provisions of Section 21 of the Act, to provide
residential accommodation for persons needing care and attention,
and temporary accommodation for persons who are in urgent need thereof.
The London County Council is, in this particular respect, "the
local authority",and such accommodation is provided at "King's Mead",
Dovehouse Street. During 1963, it was considered necessary to
arrange for the admission of 16 persons to such accommodation and all
but three of these admissions were made at "King's Mead".
(c) National Assistance Act. 1948 - Section 50.
Burial or Cremation of the Dead.
Under Section 50 of the above Act the Borough Council is
required to arrange for the burial or cremation of any person who
has died, or who has been found dead in the Borough, if it appears
in such cases that no other suitable arrangements can be made.
Cremation is not carried out having regard to the many legal,
religious, administrative and practical difficulties, and disposal
is always by way of interment which obviates any suggestion that
the Council has acted in an unauthorised manner.
The Borough Council has power to recover from the estate of a
deceased person the expenses incurred in carrying out this duty, in
so far as these expenses are not covered by a Death Grant under the
National Insurance Scheme.
During the year three burials were arranged by the Council's
Contractor as follows:-
Males Females
(Aged) 78 years Still-born child
85 years