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SECTION 2.
SANITARY INSPECTION
INSPECTION OF SHOPS
In 1949 the Home Office issued the final report of a Committee of
Enquiry which was appointed:—
(1) To enquire into the provisions of the Shops Acts relating to
closing hours (general or local) and to report as soon as possible whether
any alterations are desirable.
(2) To enquire into and make recommendations as to extending,
strengthening or modifying:—
(a) The Statutory provisions relating to the health, welfare and safety
of employed persons at places of employment other than those
regulated under the Factories or Mines and Quarries Acts, and
(b) The Statutory regulation of the hours of employment of young
persons.
(3) To enquire into and make recommendations as to the machinery
for enforcing statutory provisions within the scope of (1) and (2) above.
The report is in three parts. Part 1 deals with the health, welfare and
safety of persons employed in shops and offices, hotels, restaurants and
the catering industry, indoor and outdoor entertainment, road and rail
transport, agriculture, fishing and shipping, domestic work and certain
miscellaneous occupations. Part 2 deals with the hours of employment of
juveniles, and Part 3 with administration and enforcement.
So far, no new legislation has been enacted to implement any of the
recommendations of this Committee, but on the 1st October, 1950, the
Shops Act 1950 came into operation.
This is purely a consolidation Act and makes no change in the existing
law. It repeals and replaces the Shops Acts, 1912-1936, the Retail Meat
Dealers' Shops (Sunday Closing) Act 1936, certain sections of the Young
Persons (Employment) Act 1938 and Defence Regulations 60 A.B.
The local authorities for the purpose of the Shops Act are (outside
London) the district council and in certain cases the County Council.
With the exceptions mentioned below these local authorities are required
to enforce within their district the provisions of the Act and any Regulations
or Orders made thereunder, institute proceedings in respect of
contraventions and appoint shops inspectors. In Hornsey the Borough
Council is the Authority concerned and the duties are undertaken by the
Public Health Department, the Sanitary Inspectors being authorised
inspectors under the Shops Act. As Section 38 of the Act, relating
to the ventilation and temperature of Shops and sanitary conveniences,
is enforced by the local sanitary authority as part of its normal public
health duties, the inspectors are able to deal with both parts of the Act
when carrying out inspections.
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