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all houses suitable for the working classes and occupied by members of more than
one family are subject to registration, and in them there must be compliance with
certain requirements as to sanitation, cleansing, etc. During the year some
8,693 visits were paid to the 1,055 houses carried over from the old register. The
number of intimation notices served was 1,018, relating to cleansing and other
defects. Except in 8 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.—By the Transfer of Powers (London) Order, 1933,
of the Ministry of Health made under Section 64 of the Local Government Act,
1929, the powers and duties of the London County Council in connection with
Common Lodging Houses were transferred to the Borough Councils as from 1st
April, 1933.

During 1936, 38 visits were paid to Common Lodging Houses by officers
of the department. In addition the premises were periodically inspected by a
Fire Inspector (Mr. M. W. A. Davey) specially appointed for the purpose.
Underground rooms.—The year 1936 saw some improvement in conditions so
far as underground rooms are concerned; but on account of difficulty in obtaining
other accommodation it is often impossible to deal with cases that should be dealt
with. During the year, however, the number occupied was still further reduced,
action taken in respect of 105 in which the occupation was definitely illegal
securing discontinuance of occupation.
Regulations as to underground rooms were in operation throughout the year,
and assisted considerably in. securing improvement of conditions in a number
of cases.
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 1936 there were 408, this number including restaurant, dining room
and coffee shop kitchens, 225; tea-rooms and pastry-cookshops 120; hotel
kitchens, 32; fried fish shops, 25; iand fish-curers, 6.
As already explained legal provision has now been made for registration of
premises in which ice cream is prepared or sold and certain articles of food are
manufactured or prepared. At present the requirement does not apply to cookshops
or cooked-food shops, but in time the difficulties with which the procedure
is supposed to be surrounded in the case of such establishments may be met.
As a matter of routine, a number of restaurants, food premises, etc., are
visited each week by the Food Inspector, and any matters discovered at these
inspections are dealt with at once. In 1936, the total number of inspections was
436, the number of notices served being 10.