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gradual expansion of smoke control areas and the need to
work in close collaboration with neighbouring authorities
has already been recognised by the Council. Although the
Borough of Bexley does not experience the worst effect of
atmospheric pollution, it will be recalled that about 50 per
cent of such pollution results from the domestic hearth and
much foresight will be called for in the installation, in new
housing estates, of heating appliances capable of burning
smokeless fuels. The availability of these fuels is an important
aspect which is, no doubt, receiving the attention both
of the Government and the various agencies concerned with
their production. The implementation of the Clean Air Act,
also, raises problems of staffing and it has not yet been
decided whether the public health inspectors will be called
upon to undertake, not only the considerable task of detection
of smoke nuisances (which they already exercise as a
Public Health Act function), but also the task of examining
and reporting upon existing fuel appliances in the home and
advising on the types of appliances by which they should
be replaced in appropriate cases.
The problem of health education of the public in
connection with the declaration of smokeless zones is another
matter which introduces the problem of staffing, and indeed,
this applies to health education in general.
In my 1954 report I stated, " A good case could be made
for the appointment of a Health Education Officer to serve
the Borough or such wider area as appeared to be indicated,"
and I am becoming more than ever convinced that such a
development may be necessary. A comprehensive policy of
health education is a fairly costly matter and one of the
main difficulties is the fact that health education is regarded
in governmental circles as a matter for the Local Health
Authority (The Kent County Council) under Section 28 of
the National Health Service Act, 1946 dealing with Prevention
of Illness Care and After Care, and it is often forgotten
that county districts, also, have a responsibility for
this matter under Section 179 of the Public Health Act of
1936. This dichotomy of function is a real stumbling block
from the point of view of instituting a full programme of
health education in the Borough. The need to disseminate
accurate information on personal hygiene, on the prevention
of accidents in the home and on the principles of healthy
living in general, as well as on the nature and meaning of
health, is becoming one of the most important aspects of
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