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21
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
STAFF
Sanitary Inspectors (Change of Designation) Act. 1956
This Act received the Royal Assent on the 2nd August,
1956 and in consequence Sanitary Inspectors throughout the
country are now more aptly designated as "Public Health Inspectors".
It is improbable, however, that the change of designation alone
will make any appreciable difference to the shortage of inspectors
which exists at present.
There are two vacancies for Public Health Inspectors in
the Department, one having existed for over twelve months and the
other being due to the resignation of Mr. G.R. Young who secured
an appointment as Public Health Inspector with the Uxbridge Urban
District Council from 1st January, 1957• The response to advertisements
to fill these vacancies has not been encouraging.
Although this report is concerned with the year 1956,
it would perhaps be appropriate to say that the Council decided
that useful information might well be obtained, as has been the
case with other Departments, by an investigation by an Organisation
and Methods team and a survey of the Public Health Department was
started early In 1957. As it seemed possible that some
reorganisation would be recommended, it was felt that the question
of filling the two vacancies mentioned might well be deferred until
the report of the Organisation and Methods team had been received.
INSPECTION OF FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES
The Food & Drugs Act. 1955. The Food Hygiene Regulations. 1955
The Food and Drugs Act, 1955 came into operation on
the 1st January, 1956. The Aet is a consolidating Act and, as
a result of its provisions, the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, the Food
and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950, the Food
and Drugs Act, 195^ and a number of Orders have been included In
the one comprehensive statute. It brings into effect the provisions
of the last named Act, but there is little which is new except for
a number of detailed alterations in the law which affect the work
of your Inspectors and Sampling Officers.
On the whole, I would say that the Food Hygiene Regulations
are working well and are being reasonably observed by the
great majority of the food traders in Hampstead, all of whan have
been supplied with a copy of the Regulations.