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
Battersea 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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101
which is probably that of Mr. E. D. Simon, M.P., Ex-Lord Mayor of
Manchester, viz., that a children's allowance of 1/- (one shilling)
per week per child should be given as a rebate in the rent. It is
evident that something will have to be done as it is amongst this
class of the population that the most severe overcrowding prevails.
As shewing the need for accommodation for this, figures are
shewn in the following table of the applications for housing accommodation received by the Medical Officer of Health during the 10
weeks ended 8th September, 1928.
Summary of Applications for Housing Accommodation received by the medical officer of health during the 10 Weeks ending 8th September, 1928.
| Number of rooms occupied. | Number in family. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Total | |
| 1 Room | - | 10 | 17 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | _ | _ | _ | _ | 54 |
| 2 Rooms | 1 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 8 | — | 1 | — | - | — | 54 |
| 3 Rooms | — | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 22 |
| 4 Rooms | _ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | _ | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | 9 |
| 5 Rooms | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 |
| Unclassified | 1 | — | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 2 | 16 | 36 | 40 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 147 |
Note.—Of this number 21 had made previous application.
It will be noted from an examination of these figures that the
conditions as to overcrowding among a certain element of the
population constitute, from the health and social standpoints, a
serious evil.
During 1928, 189 applications for housing accommodation
were referred to the London County Council with a view to special
consideration being given thereto on the grounds of overcrowding
or hardship.
The following table shows the result of such action during the year.
| Referred in 1927 but not dealt with in that year. | Referred in 1928. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Families accommodated | 33 | 71 | 104 |
| Offer declined by applicant or applicant otherwise suited | 5 | 23 | 28 |
| Recommendation not accepted by L,C.C. | 4 | 33 | 37 |
| Still under consideration | 15 | 62 | 77 |
| Total | 57 | 189 | 246 |