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the Friends of the Poor and the St. Henry Fund. The Medical Officer
of Health is ex officio a trustee of the latter, the benefits of which are
available only to residents of the parish of St. Anne's, Soho.
Homes for Unmarried Mothers, etc.—The Council make an annual
grant, of £100 to the Home of St. John the Baptist at Tulse Hill. This
home was formerly in the City, and cases from Westminster are eligible
for admission. There are two other homes in the City which exist for
a similar purpose.
Day Nursery.—There are two nurseries in which mothers who work
away from home may place their young children during working hours.
The homes are situated in the districts where the need for them is
greatest. The Council make an annual grant of £25 towards the expenses
of the nursery organised by the British Red Cross Society.
Supply of Milk.—Fresh and dried milk is supplied to certain cases
recommended by the medical officer of the maternity and child welfare
centre. Before the grants are made a standard of income laid down by
the Ministry must be proved. In some instances the weekly income
does not justify an award of free milk, but those cases may come within
the scale for milk at half price. The applications are considered by a
meeting of the ladies of the Maternity and Child Welfare Sub-Committee,
which takes place once a month at each centre. Grants are made for
a period of one month and are reconsidered for continuation at each
meeting. Preparations of dried milk are sold at cost price in connection
with the centres, 3,206 pounds being disposed of during the year. The
amount expended by the Council for fresh milk as extra nourishment
for mothers and infants amounted to £87 9s. 9d.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
The sanitary administration under this heading falls under two
main categories: the supervision of food premises, and the inspection of
foodstuffs with the examination of samples by analysis. The importance
of safeguarding food from contamination is being more and more
recognised in the provisions made bv Parliament from time to time and in
the Regulations of the Ministry of Health and bye-laws of Local
Authorities." Attention has recently been directed towards the conditions
under which ice cream is made, and powers are being sought in the
London County Council (General Powers) Bill, 1928. to enable the Local
Authority to register such premises in terms similar to those in force for
Dairies and Milkshops. The legal powers of the Local Authorities as
regards the control of food supplies may be summarised thus:—