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Dark smoke was timed on 55 occasions and in 13 cases the emissions exceeded the limits prescribed
in the Dark Smoke (Permitted Periods) Regulations, 1958, thus infringing Section 1 of the Clean Air
Act. Smoke from chimneys of buildings in Smoke Control Areas contravening Section 11 of the Act
was observed on 10 occasions and smoke nuisances within the meaning of Section 16 were found 9 times.
Notifications, under Section 3 of the Clean Air Act, of the intention to instal new furnaces totalled 40.
A sixth Smoke Control Order, affecting all premises in Ward No. 7 (Bryanston Square), came into
operation on the 1st October, 1963. A seventh Smoke Control Order, in respect of Ward No. 6 (Dorset
Square) and Ward No. 9 (Park Crescent), was made by the Council in May, 1963, and confirmed
without modification by the Minister of Housing and Local Government in November, 1963.
At the end of the year Smoke Control Orders covering 30,154 premises in 1,270 acres of the Borough
had been made and confirmed by the Minister. A survey of the remaining 203 acres in Wards No. 4
(Church Street) and No. 5 (Bell Street) was commenced in preparation for an eighth and final Order
to complete the Council's Smoke Control Area programme.
In support of the National Survey of Air Pollution, smoke and sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere
was measured at four stations, two at new sites, and the concentrations are set forth in Table No.
10, page 34.
Offices.
There are some 3,612 office buildings in the Borough but there is at present no record of the number
of individual offices.
It has been estimated that almost half the working population in this country are employed in
offices and shops. Although since 1924 there have been several attempts to introduce legislation in
respect of the health, welfare and safety of office workers, until this year no substantial enactment
has resulted. Consequently there have been no legal requirements as to lighting, temperature or
facilities for washing or for taking meals, all of which have a direct bearing on health. In London,
it is even doubtful whether routine inspection of offices, as distinct from inspections based upon specific
complaints, can legally be carried out under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. However, in
1949 a Committee was appointed to enquire into:—
1. The provisions of the Shops Act relating to closing hours (general and local) and to report as
soon as possible whether any alterations were desirable.
2. To enquire into and make recommendations as to extending, strengthening or modifying:
(a) The statutory provisions relating to the health, welfare and safety of employed persons
in places of employment other than those regulated under the factories or mines and
quarries Acts, and
(b) the statutory regulation of the hours of employment of young persons.
3. To enquire into and make recommendations as to the machinery for enforcing statutory
provisions within the scope of (1) and (2) above.
The report of this Committee, known as the "Gowers Report", was presented to Parliament in
March, 1949. The general agreement with which the Committee's recommendations were received
found expression in draft legislation which was circulated for discussion. However, no apparent action
was taken on the recommendations applicable to office workers and it was not until 1960 that a relative
Act of any kind reached the statute book, and this was the result of a Private Member's Bill. Even
so, the powers for making Regulations conferred by this Act were never used and it served practically
no other purpose than to indicate by its promulgation that a positive need was felt for legislation
in this field. Such legislation was finally achieved when the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises
Act received the Royal Assent in July, 1963. This landmark in public health legislation will come
into effect towards the middle of next year.
Shops.
There are 2,472 shops in the Borough which, apart from regular visits to food shops, necessitated
306 special inspections.
Factories.
There were 1,594 factories on the register at the end of the year, 29 less than last year. A report
on the administration by the Department of matters under Parts I and VIII of the Factories Act,
1961, is given in Tables 11 and 12, page 35.
Outworkers.
Fifty-three employers submitted lists in respect of a total of 439 outworkers (182 contractors and
257 workpeople). Of these, seventeen contractors and sixteen workpeople operated in the Borough.
The nature of the different classes of work and the numbers of outworkers engaged is indicated in
Table 13, page 35.