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vi
people in the population. Only in one borough, Chelsea, is the average
age higher for both sexes; males 35.5 years; females 37.0 years. In
Westminster: males 35.5 years, females 36.9 years; the County of
London: males 32.0 years, females 33.9 years.
The density of population is given as 51.8 to the acre. This compares
with 56.5 in 1921 and 73.1 in 1911. The density for the whole county
is 58.7. Density is greatest in Southwark, 151.7, and least in the City
of London, 16.2, with Woolwich next, 17.7. The number of private
families in Westminster is 33,056. Only in one borough does the occupation
of persons per room show a lower figure, Hampstead .70 per room.
In Westminster it is .76; in Shoreditch 1.45. In 1921 in Westminster
the figure was .81 per room. These figures, together with the remarkably
low density of persons per acre, do definitely reflect the improvement in
housing conditions which has been taking place during the past ten years
in Westminster. Perhaps one more point may be alluded to; the population
included in private families occupying more than 2 persons per
room was 7,223 in 1931 or 7.1 per cent. In 1921 the corresponding
population was 11,364 or 10.1 per cent. The proportion of population
congregated as private families under this density standard of more than
2 per room adopted by the Registrar-General, is highest in Finsbury,
29.4 per cent., and lowest in Hampstead and Lewisham, each 4.1 per
cent. Westminster is seventh among the 29 metropolitan sanitary
authorities in amplitude of space for private families. A further and
more detailed analysis of the Census report, which has only come to
hand when this Annual Report is ready for publication, will be given
next year.
In 1931 the incidence of infectious disease was notably less ; the only
deaths were five from diphtheria and two from cerebro-spinal meningitis.
There were only two cases of smallpox of the prevalent variola minor type.
This disease is still endemic in London, and although the number of
patients not living but working in Westminster and their contacts is
considerable—it entailed 129 visits to places of work—the residents of
Westminster, owing to their well-vaccinated condition, remain free from
infection. From the Vaccination Officer's report it will be seen that the
average of primary vaccination among infants in Westminster is over
63 per cent. In England and Wales the average is about 40 per cent.
Ten maternal deaths again form a melancholy record—the same figure
as last year. Details of most are given in the report. As the births are
fewer, this number is disquieting; the more so as six of the cases were
under expert care before, during, and after confinement.