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It was also decided to appoint a further permanent full time
Food and Drugs Inspector. The work, therefore, which the
Food and Drugs Act, 1938, places upon the Borough Council
will be shared in 1950 between 11 District Inspectors and
2 Food and Drugs Inspectors.
The increase in the establishment of the Inspectors' department
will enable the Senior Inspector and his team to carry
out all the statutory duties placed upon them. The war, and
its aftermath, and particularly the housing situation, has
resulted in a certain amount of "marking time" in the less
urgent of the Inspectors' duties in the past. I am hopeful that
in future each Inspector will have a full and varied day's work,
and a job which he is not incapable of carrying out in the time
at his disposal.
INCREASE OF RENT AND MORTGAGE
RESTRICTIONS ACT, 1920 1939
During the year 11 applications were received for certificates
under the above Act, and in 10 cases certificates were
granted.
This total includes two applications from owners, both of
which were issued as the work specified had been completed
satisfactorily.
RODENT CONTROL.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
Infestation Order, 1943.
Rats.—The number of complaints and infestations showed a
slight increase over last year, nevertheless, taking the
Borough as a whole, the infestation is not severe.
All complaints receive thorough investigation, and efforts
are made to deal with the origin of each infestation. No
instances of "ship" ("black") rats were discovered, all
cases being of the "common" or "sewer" rat species. A
number of these are found to arise from the sewers, via
defective drains, and the repair of the drainage system usually
terminates such infestations.
A few business firms employ servicing contractors to carry
out routine control measures. Others use the services provided
by the Council and are charged according to the labour and
materials expended. In only nine instances was it found
necessary to serve formal notices.
By arrangement with the London Transport Executive,
baiting of Shepherds Bush Market was undertaken in January
and June. Baiting of the Council's sewers is executed by the
Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department. During the