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Regular inspections of the premises are made by the public health inspectors, particular attention being
given to fire precautions, the number of lodgers accommodated, sanitary and washing facilities, and to
general compliance with bye-law requirements. Both common lodging houses were well managed and
satisfactorily maintained throughout 1971.
Facilities are provided at Bruce House for the disinfestation of any residents who require this service
together with a doctor's room in which local general practitioners can see their patients. Arrangements also
exist for regular visits to this lodging house by the Council's social workers.
Radioactive Substances Act 1960
Persons who keep or use radioactive materials are, unless exempted, required to register with the
Secretary of State for the Environment.
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 recorded.
Appropriate action is taken in respect of any special precautions so far as they relate to the Department 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.
H. 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 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 76. The increase in the number of
complaints relating to mice infestation, to which reference was made in the report for the previous year,
continued throughout 1971.
Disinfection and Disinfestation
The disinfection service 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
disinfestation.
During the year 83(85) rooms, 5,566(5,806) articles of bedding and clothing and 208(149) books were
disinfected.
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.
Seventy-six (86) 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.