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24
PART 3
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The past year has again been one of struggle against staff
shortages ; one senior inspector retired for health reasons and one
of the younger inspectors left to take up an appointment with an
urban authority. Technical assistants have again proved their
worth and greater use of them must be made in the future.
Several items of legislation were introduced during the year but
the most far-reaching was the Housing Act, 1969, which came into
force on the 25th August. This Act has placed a very great deal
of extra work upon the inspectorate in dealing with applications
for qualifying certificates, provisional certificates, advice on improvements,
etc.
Housing work generally, both in connection with slum clearance
and multiple occupation, was very actively carried out during the
year, and a great deal of work was accomplished in spite of the
shortage of staff available for this specialised work.
Although a large number of inspections were carried out on
food premises and several successful prosecutions taken for food
not of the nature, substance and quality demanded, I am not
satisfied that itinerant traders are being inspected often enough,
particularly at weekends. This is due, of course, to shortage of
staff and, whilst the shortage persists, this type of visit must be
kept to a minimum in order that everyday complaints etc. are
dealt with as speedily as possible.
One interesting complaint which I feel is worthy of mention
concerns sneezing powder sold in Battersea Festival Gardens. The
powder was manufactured in France and contained certain highly
irritant ingredients which are not permitted in this country. Correspondence
with the manufacturers was conducted in French (for
which I thank the Council's interpreters) and eventually, with the
assistance of the Home Office, the manufacturers agreed to stop
all deliveries to this country of sneezing powder containing
dianisidine.
We have increased our efforts in the past year in the education
of the public on health matters and encouraging their participation
in local affairs. In this connection, public health inspectors have,
in their own time, given many lectures and informal talks to