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Statistics which are set out in Table 18, page 71, include some of those contained in the Annual
Report to the Department of Employment and Productivity.
Factories
There were 4,893 (4,314) factories on the register at the end of the year. Statistics relating to
matters which are the concern of the Health Department under Parts I and VIII of the Factories Act,
1961, are given in Tables 19 and 20, page 72.
Outworkers
Returns made by 130 (158) employers, together with 101 (124) notifications from other local
authorities, accounted for a total of 1,387 (1,841) outworkers. Of these 598 (760) were residing in
the City of Westminster.
Nearly all were engaged in the tailoring and gown trades. (Table 21, page 73.)
Basement Bakehouses
The Factories Act 1961, which re-enacted with amendments the Act of 1937, requires that a
basement bakehouse shall not be used unless a Certificate of Suitability has been issued by the
Council and that the premises were so used in 1937. There are three basement bakehouses in
Westminster for which Certificates of Suitability are in force, but this figure does not include those
catering establishments large enough to maintain separate basement baking rooms from which a
variable proportion of their products may be sold.
Food and Catering Premises
The estimated number of food and catering premises in Westminster on 31st December 1970,
was 6,800 categorised as shewn in Table 22, page 73.
During the year 11,723 (8,427) visits were made by public health inspectors and 1,007 (472)
informal notices were served in respect of matters requiring attention.
During the year 753 (702) complaints were received concerning general matters affecting food
premises, staff etc. Appropriate action was taken in each instance.
Catering Establishments
Much publicity was received during the year in the national press and in other publications in
relation to catering premises in Westminster. As in all matters of this nature, the satisfactory premises
tend to be merged with those that are not, and this results in a picture of many unhygienic and unsatisfactory
premises being used for the preparation and sale of food. Food is prepared at some
premises in conditions which leave much to be desired in spite of the continuous efforts made by the
Inspectorate responsible to ensure that acceptable conditions are maintained. Much of the problem
revolves around those who are actually engaged in the day to day operation of the business, and the
labour situation in respect of the lower paid and frequently casual catering worker is such that there
are far more situations vacant than the labour force can fill. It follows that a dissatisfied worker will
move elsewhere taking his attitude to his daily task with him, with the outcome that at the new
premises his lower standard will continue to prevail. This situation is accentuated by the fact that
many catering premises form part of vast impersonal complexes.
During the year the withdrawal of labour by refuse collectors once again posed a problem of
disposal of waste refuse from catering premises. This dispute was of longer duration than the previous
year's, and in some dumps waste matter assumed immense proportions. Where danger to health
was established appropriate action was taken, but in other cases the waste remained until the
refuse workers returned to work. A close watch was kept on the situation and, although some
residents were justifiably concerned at the close proximity of the rubbish to their residences, there
was no serious outcome apart from obvious unpleasantness. This situation brought again to the fore
consideration being given to water borne removal of food refuse, in which a waste disposal unit
discharges putrescible refuse to the drainage system. In the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations
1970, which come into effect on 1 st March 1971, it is a requirement that any layout of food premises
shall be such as to provide adequate space, suitably sited, for the purpose of the removal of waste
from food, and the separation of unfit food and the storage of any such waste and unfit food prior to
disposal. In view of the limited obligation on any Council for the collection of refuse under the Public
Health Act 1936, the space should be of sufficient size to safely contain 7 days accumulation of
refuse. In new premises this requirement will have to be fulfilled, but it will pose problems in old
premises where there is little enough room to carry on present activities.