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OUTWORKERS
In the last return made by employers of labour, the total number
of outworkers in the Borough was shown to be 262; compared with 504
in 1955.

Local firms employ 85 per cent of these outworkers, the
remainder being employed by firms in various parts of the country.
Local industry also employs 107 outworkers who reside outside
the Borough.
Periodical inspections of the outworkers' homes are made by the
Council's woman Public Health Inspectors altogether 554 such visits
were made in 1956 to ensure that the home working conditions were
satisfactory.
WELFARE OF THE ELDERLY
The problems and difficulties encountered by the elderly are
fully appreciated by the Borough Council, who devote more and more
attention to their welfare and well-being.
Where a person finds it difficult, owing to ill health, to
continue with normal household work, every effort is made to see that
nursing or domestic help is available to enable the person concerned
to continue living at home, and a more or less normal life. All
requests for help are promptly dealt with. During the year the
Council's woman Health Inspector made 3,232 visits to the homes of
the elderly in the Borough, the frequency of her visits varying with
individual needs. In a few cases it was necessary to make special
arrangements for their cleansing, which was carried out in their own
homes. In those instances where it was found that hospital treatment
was essential, arrangements for the patient's admission were
made with the hospital admission officers.
A number of persons who came to the notice of the Department
during the year were found to be living in very poor conditions, and
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