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Re-housing.
Special reference is made to the Medical Officer of Health by the Borough Council's Housing Director,
the London County Council and other local authorities for reports and advice on the housing conditions
and, in some cases, the health of persons applying for re-housing. Such enquiries totalled 324 ; of these,
185 referred only to living conditions and necessitated further investigation by a public health inspector
before the enquirer could be provided with a report to assist in assessing the order of priority of the
various applicants. The 139 confidential medical certificates referred to the Medical Officer of Health
were considered in conjunction with reports from the public health inspectors on environmental
circumstances and, where justified, suggestions were made for additional points. Closing orders were
made on 37 rooms and where the occupiers could not be given alternative accommodation immediately
they received additional points increasing their degree of priority for re-housing. Until they can be
provided with other accommodation the operation of the closing orders remains in abeyance.
Immigrants.
During the past eight years it has been the practice of the London Commissioner of the Cyprus
Government to consult the Medical Officer of Health regarding the suitability of accommodation offered
by Cypriots residing in St. Marylebone to sponsored immigrants. The object has been to avoid possible
overcrowding. During the year, only one such approach was made and in August the Commissioner
intimated that, following changes in the arrangements for immigration to the United Kingdom from
Cyprus, he would not in future be making enquiries.
The south-east portion of the Borough is contiguous with Soho and, as might be expected, contains
a cosmopolitan population. Immigrants from Cyrpus and European countries predominate. So far,
unlike neighbouring boroughs, St. Marylebone has had little influx of people from the West Indies.
Common Lodging Houses.
There are two common lodging houses in the Borough. One is run by the Salvation Army at No.
2, Burne Street and premises in Lisson Street to accommodate 391 men. The other, conducted by
the Church Army at Portman House, No. 10, Daventry Street, is registered for 85 women.
At the quarterly fire inspections it was found that the fire-fighting equipment provided and the
precautions taken were satisfactory in both lodging houses.
SECTION E.—INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
Food and Drugs Analysis.
Samples of eighty-five different kinds of foodstuffs were taken and analysed under the Food and
Drugs Act, 1955, the fee paid for analysis being £1 8s. Od. for each milk sample and £2 10s. Od. for
each other sample.
The Public Analyst (Mr. Thomas McLachlan, A.C.G.F.C., F.R.I.C., M.I.Biol.) has submitted the
following report on the year's work :—
" During the year, 376 samples of foods and drugs were examined. Of these 185 were taken formally
and 191 informally.
The number of samples adulterated or incorrectly labelled was 40 and the incidence of adulteration
may be classified as follows :—
Number of samples Number incorrect
examined
Milk 103 —
Other foods 273 40
The percentage of samples, other than milk, upon which adverse reports were made is higher than
it has been for some years. The quality of milk sold in London still shows steady improvement.
A sample of butter contained free fatty acids calculated as oleic acid 4.23 per cent. and gave a strong
Kreis reaction for rancidity. It was unfit for sale in the normal way but could be sold for cooking
purposes.
Another sample of butter was reported as inferior because it contained 16.3 per cent. of moisture,
which is slightly above the permitted limit of 16 per cent.
A sponge cake was examined because of a complaint that it possessed an objectionable flavour.
The fat used in its manufacture contained palm kernel or coconut oil which was rancid, the free fatty
acids being 2.8 per cent.