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(c) particulars of measurement of all rooms. (This work was carried
out partly in anticipation of the provisions of the Housing
Act, 1935, which became operative in August of that year) ;
(d) the exact location of the water supplies, water closet
tion, the extent of food storage accommodation, cooking and
washing accommodation ; and
(e) other general conditions.
The Housing Act of 1935 which, as before stated, became operative
in August, 1935, placed on local authorities the duty of assessing the extent
of overcrowding in the working class dwellings in their respective areas;
and, so far as the Metropolitan Boroughs were concerned, vested in the
London County Council the duty of directing those activities as to the rate
of progress in collaboration with the Metropolitan Boroughs. The
London County Council ordained, perhaps wisely, that a survey of overcrowding
for London as a whole should be simultaneous and fixed
November, 1935 for its commencement. Accordingly the City Council
instituted a further survey, during November and December, to ascertain
the exact number of overcrowded families living in the City. This survey
took the form of a somewhat rapid enumeration of every working class
family, including those living in the block industrial dwellings, which latter
were not included in the previous housing survey. The collaboration
throughout between the officials of the City Council and those of the London
County Council in this connection was completely harmonious.
It was foreseen that as the necessity would later arise for the enforcement
of the provisions of the Act of 1935, the City Council should be
in possession of the measurements of all rooms in the working class dwellings
of the City. This work was completed before the end of the year, and
by that time complete records of the measurements of all rooms in working
class dwellings in its area had been obtained. It is important to realize
that until such information is at the disposal of the local authority it is
not possible to supply owners of houses with details of the number of
persons who can be permitted to occupy any particular accommodation ;
until owners are so supplied the overcrowding provisions of the Act cannot
be enforced.
The Minister of Health has power to fix an appointed day, from which
date the overcrowding provisions of the Act of 1935 shall come into operation.
Following the two surveys it may be said that housing conditions in
working class dwellings in the City generally are steadily improving.