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Dwelling-Houses.
Statistics regarding the inspection of dwelling-houses under the Public Health or Housing Acts,
defects remedied and action taken under statutory powers are contained in Table 7, page 33.
Certificates of Disrepair.
Applications for the issue or cancellation of certificates under the provisions of the Rent Act, 1957,
were dealt with by the Town Clerk and referred to the Medical Officer of Health for investigation.
A public health inspector visited each of the premises concerned and on his report the Medical Officer
of Health was able to recommend appropriate action. Statistics relating to these matters are shown
in Table 9, page 33.
Rehousing Medical Certificates—Closing Orders.
The Medical Officer of Health receives requests from the Borough Council's Housing Director for
reports and advice on the housing conditions and the health of persons applying for rehousing.
Seventy-seven confidential medical certificates referred to the Medical Officer of Health were
considered in conj unction with reports from the public health inspectors on environmental circumstances
and, where justified, additional points were recommended.
Closing orders were made on 14 rooms and where the occupiers could not be given alternative
accommodation immediately, they received additional points increasing their degree of priority for
rehousing. Until they can be provided with other accommodation the operation of the closing orders
remains in abeyance.
Land Charges Act, 1925.
The Town Clerk referred to the Department 1,808 enquiries relating to details of any outstanding
notices, orders or other restrictions on the properties concerned. This was an increase of almost 300
on the previous year's figure, and 500 more than in 1957.
Immigrants.
The south-east portion of the Borough is contiguous with Soho and, as might be expected, contains
a cosmopolitan population. Immigrants from Cyprus and European countries predominate. During
the year, 16,400 West Indians, 3,000 Indians and 900 Pakistanis are reported to have arrived in England
but, so far, very few of these people appear to have settled in St. Marylebone.
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.
The Public Analyst (Mr. Thomas McLachlan, D.C.M., 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, 414 samples of food and drugs were examined. Of these, 18 were taken
formally and 396 informally.