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39
Attention was paid to the development of new analytical methods and close
liaison was maintained with many Research Associations. During the year many
visitors, both from home and from abroad, weje welcomed to inspect the work of the
various laboratories. The library of the Chemical Branch continued to develop,
and is an essential part of its equipment. The Chemist-in-Chief served on four
committees of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, four of the Department
of Scientific and Industiial Research, and eight of the British Standards Institution.
He was also a member of the Council of the Society of Public Analysts and other
Analytical Chemists. The Deputy Chemist (Dr. S. G. Burgess) served on a committee
of the Ministry of Food and on three of the British Standards Institution. A senior
assistant chemist (Mr. G. B. Courtier) served on a committee of the Institution of
Civil Engineers.
Publications and lectures during the year were:—
(a) "The Sanitary Engineer and Reports on Chemical Analyses" by C. J.
Regan; (b) "Early developments in London's sewage disposal with particular
reference to the work of W. J. Dibdin", by C. J. Regan; and (c) "Cleaning
of Porous Air Diffusers" by R. J. Stephenson in collaboration with A. Bruce
of the Chief Engineer's Department.
HEALTH SERVICE PREMISES
Building Programmes
The planning of new clinics and day nurseries and the adaptation and improvement
where necessary of existing premises was continued. The number of schemes reaching
the stage for submission to the Minister of Health was smaller than in the two previous
programmes. Nevertheless, when added to projects from former programmes
which had already been approved but which had not reached the construction stage,
and to those for which approval was awaited, the whole would have constituted a very
large building programme for the year 1952-53. Increasing restrictions on expenditure
and on the use of steel was however, by the end of the year, leading to the curtailment
of building programmes and will no doubt delay the carrying ont of many of the
Council's schemes.
Schemes in
preparation
Under the procedure introduced on the recommendation of the Local Government
Manpower Committee the Council submits an annual capital building programme to
the Minister of Health in November each year with a view to approval by the Minister
of schemes to be commenced in the following financial year. This programme
comprises all works costing more than £1,000, except cleaning and painting.
Since the inception of the scheme three programmes for the years 1950-51,
1951-52 and 1952-53 together with five other special schemes, comprising in all 41
projects, have been submitted to the Minister. One scheme (Victorian Grove day
nursery extension) was cancelled by the Health Committee and two others were
withdrawn because they were adaptations of office accommodation which had
become matters for reference to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
Of the remaining 38 schemes, eleven were under consideration by the Minister at
the end of the year, two had failed to receive the approval of the Minister and twentyfive
had been approved in principle. The particulars of these 38 schemes are:—
Schemes for
which
approval was
refused
Division 2—Daleham Gardens, Hampstead.—Combined maternity and child welfare
and school health centre. As stated in the report for 1950 the Minister was unable
to approve this project owing to the need for economy in expenditure on the health
service. Further representations to the Minister were unsuccessful. In view of this
the general position regarding clinics in the Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead was
under review at the end of the year.
Division 5—Brewhouse Lane, Stepney.—Permanent day nursery and child welfare
centre. The Minister did not consider there was need for a nursery to serve the