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As from the 1st March, Hospital Management Committees and
Boards of Governors were authorised to arrange the burial of persons
dying in hospital, with the exception of certain cases in which the
recovery of funeral expenses from a liable relative was involved. This
considerably reduced the number of cases for which the Borough Council
was responsible.
The total cost of the funerals carried out during 1949 amounted to
£118 17s. 6d., but an amount of £64 18s. 8d. was recovered during the
year from liable relatives and the estates of deceased persons.
National Assistance Act, 1948, Section 47
Removal to suitable premises of persons in need of care and attention.
Although it was not found necessary to operate the legal powers of
removal and detention under the above-mentioned Act, many cases of
acute distress amongst aged and infirm persons living alone have been
reported as the result of visits by your Sanitary Inspectors. Owing to
the severe shortage of accommodation some delay has been experienced
in arranging for the voluntary reception of such cases into hospitals or
homes. In the meantime everything possible is done to improve their
circumstances. My thanks are due to all the local voluntary organisations
who assisted with their services, including the provision of meals,
etc. The services of the L.C.C. Home Helps are also enlisted and the
L.C.C. gives every possible assistance with removals, despite difficulties
caused by the above-mentioned shortage of accommodation.
Outworkers
In accordance with the Factories Act, 1937, 26 Hampstead firms
sent in lists of persons employed as home workers. Of the 348 persons
so employed, 65 resided in the Hampstead area. Information concerning
75 outworkers resident in Hampstead but employed by firms outside
the Borough was received from other authorities.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933
During the year 109 applications for the renewal of poisons licences
were granted. In eight instances new licences were issued and five firms
ceased to sell poisons.
Inspection and Supervision of Food
Hygiene of food and food premises.
The undoubted growth of the feeling of public responsibility for the
cleanliness of the food supply, ably sustained throughout the year by
the Press, has naturally focussed attention upon this most important
aspect of the work of the Department.
Towards the end of the year the Ministry of Food issued Model
Byelaws intended to secure the observance of sanitary and cleanlyconditions
in the handling, wrapping and delivery of food and sale of
food in the open air.
The present L.C.C. Byelaws for the protection of food are undergoing
revision in the light of the new Model Byelaws. The revised
Byelaws, when issued, should materially assist in improving the standard
of the cleanliness of food.
Your Council, through their Public Health Committee, was among
the prime movers in demonstrating to food handlers the potential dangers
of food contamination and the paramount necessity for the observance
of cleanliness in food production, handling and storage. As far back
as January, 1948, a series of lectures and practical demonstrations on