View report page

94
The second case was brought to the notice of the Council by the
London County Council. The woman referred to is Mind and in receipt
of domiciliary assistance from the London County Council. She was
alleged to be partially paralysed and bedridden and, although in need of
institutional care, efforts to persuade her to enter an institution had
been quite unsuccessful.
She proved not to be bedridden and on each occasion when visited
was found to be about her rooms preparing food, &c. Attention is given
her by a church visitor and though blind and 83 years of age she occasionally
goes out for a walk. Her room was cleansed and redecorated, and
as her case did not appear to come within the Act it was decidcd
in the meantime to take no action beyond paying regular visits for
frequent observations.
Housing.
General Observations.—The Minister of Health's Circular No. 1331 to
Housing authorities in April, 1933, reawakened activity in housing
matters which had been slowed down since the autumn of 1931. Emergency
conditions of the economic depression and the restriction of national
resources had necessarily retarded progress in housing.
On receipt of the Minister's announcement it was at once decided to
reconsider the survey of the housing needs of the inhabitants of the City
which had been submitted in 1931. In that year the Minister required
Medical Officers to report on housing in detail and for that purpose a
survey of the whole city was undertaken by the several district sanitary
inspectors, each inspecting and reporting for his own area. So far as a
general review of housing conditions could be made in the five or six
months available, much valuable information was obtained confirming
and amplifying the information laid before the appropriate committees in
1930. On that occasion a large scale map of the whole city was
prepared, types of properties and their condition of fitness being indicated
by different tints, while overcrowding, and underground room occupation
were also shown.
The Minister's request for a programme of slum clearance and rehousing
indicated a need for up-to-date information, and the Housing
Committee decided that a survey on much more detailed lines should be
undertaken forthwith. Accordingly one of the district sanitary inspectors
(Mr. White) was transferred from his ordinary duties to that of housing
survey work solely. His work during the first four or five months was
unfortunately much interrupted. The new Rent Restrictions Act, 1933,