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posters and leaflets in English, as well as in Turkish, Greek and Urdu to
include more residents of the Borough at risk. Representations have been
made by the Council to the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee
on 'The Oil Heaters Regulations, 1962' pressing for an extension of legislation
to make it an offence to sell or possess for sale not only heaters
manufactured after 1st June 1962, which do not meet the requirements of the
Regulations, but also secondhand heaters irrespective of the date of manufacture
which are defective or do not conform to the standards laid down.
Old People
An interesting project was begun with some local general practitioners
to compile 'at risk' registers of old people. Using clerical assistance
from this Department, family doctors were helped to survey their lists to
provide registers of old people which could be of use to them in their
practice and also aid voluntary and statutory agencies in planning homevisiting
and other help to those in need. An extension of this work,
in association with an adequate visiting service, would go a long way to
prevent the insidious onset of physical, mental and social deterioration
still to be found with some old people, often necessitating their urgent
removal into care.
Frozen foods introduced to the meals-on-wheels and club meals services
were welcomed as providing a greater choice of menu and flexibility in
catering. The small additional cost per meal, as compared with the
standard meals, was met by a special subvention granted by the Council.
Proposals to extend the meals service to the needy in any age group,
including an invalid meals service, await implementation following the
reorganisation of the old boundaries previously defining the Invalid Meals
Service's sphere of operation.
The severe winter caused considerable hardship to many old people who
for various reasons were unable to maintain adequate heating of their homes.
The Holiday Centre bookings reached a new record with 1,364 for the
year, including some 965 old-age pensioners provided for at a lower ratesubsidised
charge including free transport to and from Sandgate.
Food Supervision
Poultry slaughterhouse premises have been kept under strict supervision
to minimise the nuisance to the public. Their long-awaited removal
to a centralised position outside the Borough seems no nearer fulfilment
than it has been for some decades. Closures do occur as development of
the areas proceed. Open fronted food shops and market stalls are a
familiar part of the scene in the Borough. By modern standards, the
potential contamination of food that is possible under these conditions
of sale leaves much to be desired. Co-operation of owners of fixed
shops to provide protective shop windows is being increasingly encouraged
to minimise health risks.
The Corporation of the City of London, acting as the public health
authority for the Port of London, have submitted proposals to the Ministry
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