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"property, provided he can produce a Certificate from the Medical Officer of
"Health for the district in which the house is situated, that the house is so
"constructed as to afford suitable accommodation for each of the families or
"persons inhabiting it, and that due provision is made for their sanitary
"requirements, and the Medical Officer of Health is required to examine
"such houses, on request of the owner, for the purpose of ascertaining if the
"Certificate can be properly granted, and if it can, he must certify the same
"accordingly.
"I may mention that among the proposals of the London County Council
"for legislation during 1904 is one for dealing with the question of inspection
"of premises where food is prepared for sale.
"Such powers have already been granted in the cases of Milk, Ice-creams,
"Bakehouses, &c., and there is no reason why provisions which are necessary
"in the case of Bakehouses should not be necessary with regard to any place
"where food is prepared for sale.
"Legislation pending, it would be obviously an advantage to have a system
"of voluntary certification which would enable those who were willing to
"obtain authoritative evidence as to the condition of their premises.
"The experience gained in dealing with Underground Bakehouses under
"the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, is of considerable value in this connec"tion.
Generally speaking, the main points for consideration do not differ
"materially in Kitchens or Bakehouses, underground or aboveground. Thus,
"to ensure the utmost cleanliness, the walls, floor, and ceiling are required to
"be impervious, the walls being as little encumbered as possible by shelves,
"woodwork or other obstructions placed against them. This enables the
"place to be thoroughly washed down and cleansed effectively and
"expeditiously.
"In the case of Kitchens, the proper storage of almost every class of
"perishable food has to be dealt with. It is therefore desirable that a
"separate store-room should be provided for the purpose. It is also a great
"advantage to have a separate room as a scullery for washing up, &c. In
"many cases it will be difficult to comply with all these obvious require"ments.
"The standard should, therefore, not be so rigidly .enforced as to press
"unduly on persons willing to comply as far as possible with its spirit. I
"submit for your consideration standards of suitability both for Kitchens and
"Bakehouses aboveground, and would recommend that, as in the case of
"Underground Bakehouses, your Committee will not refuse a Certificate
"because the standard cannot be complied with in all respects, but will
"consider every case upon its merits."