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2. Extension of the milk in schools and school dinners
scheme for school children.
3. Expansion of Day Nursery schemes for children.
4. A slight increase in the purchasing power compared
with the rise in the cost of living of the poorer
sections of the community, with a greater awareness
of food values and a determination to obtain the
total amount of rationed food to which a family is
entitled. No longer do we find children whose staple
diet consists of tea, bread, jam and cakes. There is
a greater realisation of the value of milk, green
vegetables, margarine, cheese and potatoes.
5. An extension of the diphtheria immunisation scheme
which has protected the health and saved the lives of
many thousands of children.
6. A marked rise in the birth rate -
The birth rate in this borough has risen to 21.19
compared with 13.7 for 1959.
7. A fall in the infantile mortality rate -
In this borough the infantile mortality rate fell
from 38.3 in 1945 to 56.55 in 1946.
On. the debit side:-
1. The war has undoubtedly resulted in the breaking up
of many thousands of homes and this has been reflected
in the number of divorces which are now being
granted on an unprecedented scale. This has obviously
affected the feeling of security, happiness and wellbeing
of the children concerned and has resulted in
many problems, some of which are incapable of satisfactory
solution.
2. Housing. The destruction of houses and the arrest of
the building of housing estates, both private and
local government, led to difficulties with regard to
housing in 1946 which were, in many cages insuperable.
The problem was faced in 1946 in Stoke Newington,
partly by the initiation of schemes for the building
of new blocks of flats, and by the erection of prefabricated
bungalows of which 55 mere com pleted and
occupied during the year, but mainly by a strict
extension of the requisitioning of houses most of