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During the year the work of clearing rats from the City continued
actively. It is the statutory duty of the owner to clear his promises of rats.
Even so the Council resolved some years ago to deal with rats in houses of
the tenement and industrial type generally free of charge while making a
charge for work done in business and other buildings. In the latter the
occupier has the choice of throe alternatives, to undertake the work himself,
to empty a rat servicing contractor or by default to allow the City Council
to enter and disinfest.
CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS
Total number of Catering Establishments inspected 1,601
Number of notices served 266
Legal Proceedings : £56*0.Od. Costs: £46.15»Od.
Like the railways the intensive war time use and claimant needs of the
public have caused undue wear and tear of premises and equipment. Maintenance
and restoration have boon at a minimum. Good progress has boon made towards
recovery of peace time standards but inspections have necessarily to be very
detailed to comply with the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act. Much time
is taken in consultation with the proprietors and their builders. The usual
restrictive factors of labour and materials cause delays and much remains to
be done. Although one Inspector is giving all his time to this work it is
becoming clear that it is increasing beyond the capacity of one individual.

INSPECTION OF MEAT
On the outbreak of war the wholesale distribution of meat from the Central
Market in the Metropolis was decentralised.
Various 'distributing depots ware opened, including one in Westminster
Daily visits of inspection were made by the Council's Inspectors to this
depot during the year.