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Closing Orders on Houses.— Section 10 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1953,
which came into operation on the 14th August, 1953, enables a local authority to make a closing order,
instead of a demolition order under section 11 of the Housing Act, 1936, where a demolition order is
inexpedient because of the effect of demolition on another house or building. Section 11 extends
this power to a case where a demolition order had already been made before the commencement
of this Act, and also extends the time limit in section 2 of the Housing Act, 1949, for applying to a
local authority to quash a demolition order made before 1st January, 1946, where the house has
since been made fit for human habitation, to twelve months from the passing of this Act.
Underground Rooms.—Closing orders under section 12 of the Housing Act, 1936, were made on
forty-eight rooms, and variations in the user of six rooms already subject to closing orders were
approved by the Public Health Committee. Twelve orders, involving twenty-two rooms, were
determined.
Re-Housing.—During the year, 482 enquiries were received from the Borough Council's Housing
Director, the London County Council and other local authorities, regarding the circumstances of
persons applying for re-housing. Nearly all requests necessitated investigation by a sanitary inspector
before the enquirer could be provided with a report to assist him in assessing the order of priority of
the various applicants. In 340 instances the application was supported by a confidential medical
certificate which is considered by the Medical Officer of Health personally.
The occupants of rooms upon which closing orders are made receive additional "points" which
increase their degree of priority for re-housing, and until they obtain other accommodation the
operation of the closing orders remains in abeyance.
Immigrants.—In accordance with an arrangement which has been in operation for the past five
years, the London Commissioner of the Cyprus Government, with the object of avoiding possible
overcrowding in the Borough by sponsored immigrants from Cyprus, asked the Medical Officer of
Health to report if suitable accommodation to the standards laid down in the Housing Act, 1936,
could be offered in thirty-nine cases where Cypriots residing in St. Marylebone proposed to offer
accommodation in their homes to fellow-countrymen. It was possible to report that the
accommodation would be suitable in thirty-five cases (involving forty-five immigrants) and that in
the remaining four (relating to five immigrants) overcrowding would result.
Common Lodging Houses.—Forty-three inspections were made of the two lodging houses in the
Borough ; one, accommodating 391 men, owned by the Salvation Army and situated at No. 2, Burne
Street and premises in Lisson Street; the other, registered for 85 women, conducted by the Church
Army at Portman House, No. 10, Daventry Street. At the men's lodging house the old and defective
range of fifteen water-closets and seven urinals, situated in a restricted open area near the kitchen,
was abolished and replaced by a new installation, comprising eleven water-closets, seven urinals and
five wash-basins, in the basement beneath the front entrance in Lisson Street. This accommodation
is mechanically ventilated, and the floors and walls of the apartment are tiled. At the same time,
three new urinals were provided in the ablutions room in the basement of the Burne Street frontage.
As a result of the carrying out of these works, greatly improved sanitary accommodation is now
available for the users of the premises.
At the quarterly fire inspections it was found that the fire fighting equipment provided and the
precautions taken were satisfactory in both lodging houses.
Rent Restrictions Acts.—During the year no disrepair certificates were issued. One application was
received but could not be granted as the condition of the dwelling involved did not warrant it.
SECTION E.—INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Food and Drugs Analysis.—Samples of ninety-nine different kinds of foodstuffs and eleven varieties
of drugs were taken and analysed under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, the fee paid for analysis
being £1 Is. Od. for each milk sample and £1 15s. Od. for each other sample.
The Public Analyst (Mr. Thomas McLachlan) has submitted the following report on the year's
work :—
During 1953, 678 samples of foods and drugs were examined. Of these 421 were taken formally
and 257 informally.
The number adulterated or incorrectly labelled was forty-eight, or 7.1 per cent. The
incidence of adulteration may be classified as follows :—