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Under these a new register is being formed, and during the year in connection
with this and for purposes of supervision, some 7,874 visits were paid to the 1,055
houses on the old list. The number of intimation notices served was 1,053, relating
to cleansing and other defects. Except in 37 cases, where statutory notices were
issued, all of these notices were complied with without the necessity for further
proceedings arising.
In all tenement buildings the provision of lighting arrangements in staircases
called for by Sec. 61 of the L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1927, has now been made
and appears to be working satisfactorily.
Common Lodging Houses.—The following table contains all the necessary
particulars with regard to the licensed premises of this class in the Borough. On
account of the war and the reduction in the number of lodgers, one or two of the
lodging houses were shut down and will not again be used in this way. Of those
still on the list special reference may be made to "Portman House" in which
accommodation is provided for women only. Houses for women are badly needed,
but very difficult to find; houses so well arranged and conducted as "Portman
House" are rare indeed. Established many years ago by Miss Meredith Brown,
this was one of the first of its kind and under the management of Miss Ellen
Homewood must have done an incalculable amount of good and conferred great
benefit on large numbers of women. Towards the end of the year arrangements
were made for the transference of the premises and all its activities to the Church
Army under whom there is every indication work no less valuable and splendid will
be carried on.

A number of visits were paid to all the houses from time to time by officers of
the department and the attention of the person in charge or the London County
Council directed to any matter calling for remedy.
Underground rooms.—The year 1931 saw little improvement in conditions so
far as underground rooms are concerned. On account of difficulty in obtaining
other accommodation it is often impossible to deal with cases that should be dealt
with. Actually during the year action was taken in respect of 13 in which the
occupation was definitely illegal and discontinuance secured.
New regulations for the control of underground rooms occupied for sleeping
purposes were prepared and submitted to the Minister of Health for approval,
which, however, had not been received before the year ended.
C.—PREMISES THAT ARE NOT BUT SHOULD BE
REGISTERED.
For a variety of reasons the number of premises in the Borough in which meals
are provided or food is sold already cooked or is prepared for sale is very large.
At the end of 1931 there were 346, this number including: restaurant, dining room
and coffee shop kitchens, 201; tea-rooms and pastry-cooks, 90; hotel kitchens, 24,
fried fish shops, 25; and fish-curers, 6. In addition, there were a number of shops
in which sausages were manufactured, and meat, ham, &c., cooked and sold only
over the counter.