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Copies of certificates of registration, authorisation and supplementary provisions, the cancellation
or variation of certificates issued by the Minister in respect of users in the City, are received and
ecorded. Appropriate action is taken in respect of any special precautions so far as they relate to the
epartment in connection with the conditions specified in the certificates.
Rodent Control
A staff of eight rodent operatives under the supervision of the Pest Control Officer is based on
two centres, namely 313/319 Harrow Road for the northern half of the City and at Bessborough
Street M. & C. W. Centre for the southern half of the City.
Primary and follow-up visits are made without charge in respect of complaints of rat and mouse
infestation in domestic and business premises and a free disinfestation service is provided for
domestic premises. Short-term treatment only is undertaken at business premises where circumstances
permit and for this a charge is made. Where treatment necessitates regular attention on a
long-term basis, business firms are advised to employ a commercial pest control organisation.
The baiting of sewers against rat infestation, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is now undertaken by a contractor on behalf of the City Council.
Every manhole and side entry to the sewers is baited with an approved rodenticide, on four occasions
annually.
The operation requires advance information to be given to the Metropolitan Police, the Greater
London Council, the adjoining Boroughs and the City of London Corporation, the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the City Engineer with regard to safety precautions which apply.
Continued attention is given to advances in methods of treatment, with particular regard to
formulations of poison baits as recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
Statistics in regard to Rodent Control are given in Table 15, page 70: it is of interest to note the
considerable increase in complaints relating to infestation by mice.
Insect Pest Control—Disinfestation
The work of insect disinfestation is carried out from two centres, namely Lissonia, 217 Lisson
Grove, N.W.8 and Wedlake Street Medicinal Baths, Kensal Road, W.10, by a staff of five disinfectors
who also undertake disinfection.
Continued attention is given to methods of insecticidal treatment and the formulations of spray
and powder in use are specified with particular regard to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Food recommendations.
As in the case of rodent control, a free service is provided in domestic premises, but in business
premises where insect control is a matter of routine maintenance, it is advised that a commercial pest
control organisation be employed.
During the year 3,015 (2,920) rooms were disinfested, and 62 wasp nests destroyed.
Disinfection
During the year 85 (87) rooms, 5,806 (5,247) articles of bedding and clothing and 149 (270)
books were disinfected; 35 articles of furnishing were dried and disinfected after damage by storm
water flooding of premises.
In addition 112 refuse dumps were treated as a result of the unofficial withdrawal of labour in
the Director of Cleansing's Department.
The Department continued to be asked by residents to certify that clothing intended for despatch
to foreign countries, mainly those in Central Eastern Europe, was free from infection. In such cases
disinfection is carried out only when the articles concerned have actually been in contact with
infectious disease.
Eighty-six (73) certificates were issued indicating that no infectious disease had been reported
for at least one month at the premises from which the clothing was purported to have come.