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63
The Shops Act, 1934.
This act came into operation on the 31st December, 1934, and requires a closer supervision of
all shops than had hitherto been the case. The administration of the act is shared in London between
the county council and the metropolitan borough councils, the duty of the latter being limited to the
enforcement in all shops of :—
(a) suitable and sufficient means of ventilation ;
(b) ,, ,, ,, „ maintaining a reasonable temperature;
(c) „ ,, ,, w.c. accommodation.
In order to give effect to the new legislation in Kensington, it was decided to make a complete
survey of all shops in the borough and to prepare a card index record on the lines of the one existing
in regard to dwelling houses. By the end of 1935, 1,245 shops had been inspected. During 1936,
a further 1,747 shops were inspected and 222 notices were served.

Section 10 (6) of the act provides that a local authority may grant a certificate exempting a shop
from the provision of suitable and sufficient water closet accommodation if they are satisfied that by
reason of restricted accommodation or other special circumstances affecting the shop it is reasonable
that such a certificate should be in force and that suitable and sufficient sanitary accommodation is
otherwise conveniently available. During 1935, 34 exemption certificates were granted and a
further 15 were granted in 1936.
Shortly after the act came into operation, the council considered the question as to what should
be regarded as suitable and sufficient sanitary accommodation where persons of both sexes are
employed. It was decided that in those shops where members of both sexes are employed, separate
sanitary conveniences for each sex should be required if the number of employees exceeds four ; but
that if the number is less than four, one sanitary convenience should be regarded as suitable and
sufficient, provided that the door of such convenience is fitted with a proper lock or fastener on
the internal side and an automatic indicator showing on the external side of the door whether the
apartment is engaged or vacant.