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47
Supply of Milk, etc., to Necessitous Mothers and Children.—Under
the provisions of the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, milk, etc., is provided
by the Council for necessitous expectant and nursing mothers and children under
the age of five years. In the administration of this service, economic circumstances
scales have been adopted by the Council and revised from time to time. In May
they were revised and are now as set out below:—
No. in Family. Free Per head. Half-cost Per head.
s. d. s. d.
1 14 0 16 0
2 12 0 14 0
3 10 0 12 0
4 9 0 10 0
5 8 0 9 0
6 and over 7 0 8 0
after deduction of rent only.
In 1934 the Council agreed to co-operate with the London County Council
with regard to the supply of extra nourishment to maternity cases where domiciliary
relief was being granted by the County Council. The scheme was subsequently
enlarged to include delicate children whose parents were in receipt of out-relief.
It was anticipated that when the Unemployment Assistance Board assumed
responsibility for the grant of assistance to certain persons within the scope of
Part 2 of the Unemployment Act, 1934, it would affect the scheme of co-operation
to a considerable extent, but in point of fact it did not do so. At the end of the
year it was estimated that the amount due from the London County Council in
respect of extra nourishment was £433, compared with £353 in part of the previous
year.
The approximate cost of the supply of milk, etc., to necessitous mothers and
children, excluding any payments due by the London County Council, was as
follows :—
Dried Milk, £2,000 15s. 0d.; Fresh Milk, £2 5s. 0d.; Dinners, Nil.
Blind Persons Act, 1920.—The Council, at the request of the London County
Council, have arranged that home visiting of blind children under five years of
age should be carried out by the Council's health visitors. Reports are furnished
to the County Council, as the occasion arises, when the home conditions are
unsuitable for blind children or it is advisable that the child should be admitted
to a suitable institution. During the year no new cases came to the knowledge
of the department.
Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925.—
The local authority may, in case of desertion of a child who is an orphan, administer
the payments on behalf of the child. No case under the provisions of this Act
was dealt with during the year.