View report page

162
for a marked change in the substance of the law, but suggested various amendments
which they considered to be needed. The amendments proposed were such as to
secure substantially many of the objects sought by the Council's resolutions of
18th May, 1920 (and referred to in the Annual Report for that year; p. 113), as to
amendments which experience had shown to be necessary to remedy defects in the
provisions of the Act. One important proposal was that notification of the reception
of an infant must be given at least 48 hours before reception (instead of within
48 hours after, as at present), which would enable a local authority to intervene,
if necessary, before the child is actually received. The Child Adoption Committee
also proposed that the period during which a foster-child is under the supervision of
the local authority should be extended by two years, i.e., from the age of 7 years
to the age of 9 years. Having regard to the adequate school medical service in
the County of London, it was not considered that any real advantage was likely
to accure, so far as London was concerned, by the adoption of this proposal. On
these and other points of a minor nature, arising out of the Child Adoption Committee's
proposals, the Council's views were communicated to the Minister of Health, by
whom they will receive consideration in connection with any amendment of the
Children Act, 1908.
Lying-in
homes.
The Council s powers and duties with regard to the registration and inspection
of lying-in homes are described in the Annual Report for 1922 (vol. III., p. 104).
At the end of 1925, 277 premises were on the register, 26 were added during the
year, and 37 entries were removed (owing to discontinuance of user, removal, etc.),
leaving a net total of 266 on the register at the end of 1926. Eleven premises carried
on by registered medical practitioners were exempted during the year.
Census of
homeless
persons,
Particulars are given in Chapter I. (p. 29) of the result of the census of homeless
persons taken in February, 1926. The total numbers of homeless persons found
in the streets, on staircases and under arches at the censuses in recent years were:—
1915, 178; 1916, 44; 1917, 28; 1918, 9; 1919, 8; 1920, 51; 1921, 56; 1922,
112; 1923, 141; 1924, 82; 1925, 118; and 1926, 103.
Common
lodging-
houses.
Particulars with regard to common lodging-houses licensed by the Council
are as follows:—
Year.
Houses
licensed.
Lodgers
authorised.
Prosecutions.
Convictions.
Penalties
and costs.
Cases of infectious
disease
1921 181 18,503 1 1 £3 18s. 1
1922 178 17,948 1 1 £3 2
1923 175 17,700 5 5 £19 10s. 2
1924 174 17,519 nil nil nil 1
1925 168 16,930 3 3 £8 19s. 6d. 1
1926 | 164 16,967 1 I £2 2s. 2
A comprehensive investigation was undertaken during the latter part of 1926
into the question of the character, standard and adequacy of the accommodation
provided in common lodging houses and other kindred institutions in the country.
Under the powers conferred on the Council by Part V. of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1907, the Council has made and renewed agreements
with certain metropolitan borough councils for the cleansing of verminous inmates
of licensed common lodging-houses and their clothing.
Seamen's
lodging-
houses.
Particulars of seamen's lodging-houses licensed by the Council are as follows:—
Year.
Houses
licensed.
Lodgers
authorised.
Prosecutions.
Convictions.
Penalties
and costs.
Cases of infectious
disease.
1921 51 1,287 13 11 £130 10s. 6d. 1
1922 44 1,170 1 1 — 1
1923 36 1,089 4 4 £40 1
1924 38 1,128 4 4 £14 3s. | 2
1925 33 1,092 7 7 £41 8s. —
1926. 34 1,073 1 1 £5 2s. 1