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Many "problem" houses have been acquired by the Trust which has adopted a policy of carrying
out a full scheme of improvement and repair in each, with excellent results. The Trust has also
offered accommodation to families who had serious housing problems but who had insufficient
priority for rehousing by the City Council.
Common Lodging Houses
There are three common lodging houses in the City. One, accommodating 565 men, is kept by
the Salvation Army at 18 Great Peter Street, S.W.1., whilst another for 716 men is run by Westminster
City Council Welfare Department at Bruce House, Campbell Street, W.C.2. The third is at 84
Bell Street, N.W.1., where the Church Army have accommodation for 85 women.
Regular inspections of these premises are made by the Public Health Inspectors, particular
attention being given to fire precautions, numbers of lodgers accommodated, tracing any possibly
verminous persons or articles, sanitary and washing facilities, and to general compliance with the
Byelaw requirements. All three common lodging houses were well managed and maintained
throughout 1966.
During the year facilities were provided at Bruce House for the disinfestation of any residents who
required this service; and a doctor's room was provided in which local general practitioners can
see their patients. Arrangements were also made for regular visits by Social Workers from the Health
Department and the Welfare Department to this lodging house.
Local Land Charges
The number of enquiries dealt with and reported upon in 1966 was 6,484 as compared with
5,934 the previous year. These reports take into consideration all aspects of the Health Department's
work, so that not only has the number of enquires increased but the scope of the replies continues to
widen as additional legislation becomes operative.
Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963
The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963 made fresh provision for securing the health,
safety and welfare of persons employed to work in offices, shops and certain railway premises.
Responsibility for enforcing the Act is divided between local authorities, local fire authorities and the
Ministry of Labour.
Before employing persons in premises to which the Act applies, occupiers are required to give
notice to the appropriate authority and 1,912 notifications were received by the City Council during
1966. On the 31 st December, after allowing for removals and the transfer of registrations to other
authorities, 16,281 premises in which a total of 340,524 persons are employed, were on the
Council's register of notifications.
After receiving notice of the employment of persons it is the duty of a local authority to carry out
"general inspections" in premises to which the Act applies. During 1966,5,751 "general inspections"
were made and at the end of the year 6,311 premises awaited a "general inspection." Contraventions
of the Act were found in 3,372 premises. The willingness of most owners and occupiers to cooperate
with the Council's officers facilitated informal action and it was not necessary to institute
legal proceedings. In one case arising out of a fatality during the use of a goods hoist. Counsel
was asked to consider the possibility of successful legal proceedings but advised the Council
against this course. Compared with the figures for 1965 there were reductions in the number of
accidents reported, the number requiring investigation and in the number of fatalities. There
were slight rises in the number of accidents investigations which revealed contraventions of the Act
and in the number where a contravention may have been a contributory cause of an accident.
Arising out of the investigation of accidents, much work was arranged in the interest of accident
prevention either by enforcing provisions of the Act or by fostering the good will of the owners or
occupiers concerned.
The City Council has power to grant exemptions from certain requirements of the Act relating to
space, temperature, sanitary conveniences and washing facilities. No applications for such
exemptions was received during the 1966 and the four exemptions current on the 31st December
expired on that day. The Council may also authorise exemption from certain requirements relating
to the provision of first-aid facilities where a first-aid room is provided and there are adequate
arrangements for securing the immediate treatment of injured or sick persons. During the year
four premises were so exempted, increasing the total of exemptions current on the 31st December
to 25.
Statistics, including some contained in the Annual Report to the Ministry of Labour, will be found
in Table 21, on page 72.