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is given as 385,984, while the night population, which include all whose
homes are in the city, numbers 141,578, and of the latter a certain proportion
are engaged in occupations outside Westminster.
During 1925, unemployment showed a tendency to decrease and this
was reflected in the amount of outdoor relief. The Guardians have been
good enough to supply the following figures : £9,849 16s. was the amount
expended in outdoor relief during the year.
The corresponding expenditure in 1924 amounted to £11,097 5s.
Births.
The births registered in Westminster during 1925 numbered 1,519,
but of these the homes of 481 were in other districts and have therefore
to be deducted from the total. There were, however, 497 children
belonging to Westminster parents born in institutions outside the City,
and these must be added. This gives a net total of 1,535, which is 89 less
than the similar figure for 1924. The increase in births registered which
was noted last year has been maintained, but a greater deduction has to be
made for infants born in the City although not belonging to it. The net
result shows a continued fall in the births in Westminster, but it shows
a greater use of the maternity beds available in the City by women from
other districts. As compared with 1924 there was also a reduction from
521 to 497 in the number of children belonging to Westminster parents
born in other districts.
Although the number of maternity beds in the hospitals of the City are
not numerous, yet a considerable number of confinements, including a large
proportion from other districts, take place annually in those institutions,
and this is possible because as a rule the duration of the mother's stay in
hospital does not exceed ten or twelve days. There are 14 maternity beds
in Charing Cross Hospital, 12 in St. George's Hospital and 4 in Westminster
Hospital. In-patient facilities for mothers residing in the City are, however,
not restricted to those institutions, as quite a number arrange to
have their babies in the large maternity hospitals which are within easy
reach, namely, Queen Charlotte's Hospital and the General Lying-in, York
Road. Some also take advantage of the large maternity departments of
the Middlesex, St. Thomas's and Royal Free Hospitals.
The birth-rate was 10.7 per 1,000; that for the County of London
being 18.0. The birth-rate for England and Wales Was recorded as
18.3.