London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of Westminster 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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74
Outworkers.—A total of 946 lists was received during the year.
Notices in respect of failure to send lists were sent to 156 firms. No
legal proceedings were necessary.
The lists contained 9,287 names and addresses, of which 5,196 were
in other districts, 4,493 being within the Metropolitan area and 690 in the
London Suburban districts.
The number of individual outworkers in the City at the close of the
year was 1,561, of whom 1,483 were registered as occupying factories.
The number of premises in which outwork was being carried on was 649.
Factories Act, 1937.—This Act, of which details were given in last year's
report, came into force in July, 1938.
Common Lodging Houses.
There are 5 common lodging houses in the City, 4 for men and
1 for women, viz.:—
Licensed to receive:—
Men. Women.
16, Strutton Ground (private owner) 201 —
Bruce House, Kemble Street (London
County Council) 716 —
33, Creat Peter Street (Church Army) 80 —
7, St. Ann's Street (Salvation Army) 565 —
28-30, Greencoat Place (Church Army) — 184
The City Council renewed all licences for a period of one year
from 1st July, 1938.
The duties of inspection involve visits both by day and by night and are
carried out by a male sanitary inspector for men's lodging houses and
the female sanitary inspector for the women's lodging house. During
the year, 158 inspections were made, 52 being between the hours of 6 p.m.
and 9 a.m. A satisfactory standard has been maintained during the
year in four of the houses. In the fifth, owing to inadequate staff, a
satisfactory standard of cleanliness was not obtained, and the washing
and lighting facilities were inadequate. These conditions were improved
following representations to the owner, and electric lighting was substituted
for gas. The owner provided a small canteen for the use of the
lodgers. This house is in a somewhat lower grade than the other common
lodging houses, but serves a useful purpose as it provides accommodation
for the type of lodger who does not expect, nor can he afford,
the amenities of the others.