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95
Part VIII—Outwork

128 visits were made to outworkers premises during the year, and all were found
to be satisfactory.
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT 1963
Offices
Most of the main provisions of this Act came into operation on the
1st August 1964, and whereas any observations about the work done during
1964 was for a part of the year, reports for 1965 reflect the first full year's
operation of the Act.
During the course of the year 1,299 visits were made to registered
premises and these revealed that the majority of those responsible for the
management and running of offices and shops are now accepting their new
responsibilities and co-operating in the matter of providing the amenities
and facilities which the Act demands.
It is not easy or by any means a simple straightforward matter to
secure on premises that have been in existence for many decades, the standards
to be found in structures of modern design, but, nevertheless, a great
deal has been accomplished and the fact that standards now exist for office
accommodation and shops, is a very encouraging prospect for the future.
New development that includes structures intended for use as shops or
offices can be expected to have from the moment of occupation the facilities
necessary to meet the basic requirements of the Act and similarly in shop
and office properties where major reconditioning or works involving
structural alterations or extensions are being undertaken. It is the older
office block and particularly the property which, at the time of construction,
was probably a villa type residence, and where with passing years the
front rooms have become a shop and the one-time bedrooms, offices, that
present the problems. Here, well fitted shops may have behind them cramped
accommodation for staff with offices over which are approached by narrow
winding stairs and which no amount of camouflage can obscure the fact
that they were one-time bed or living rooms.
Many premises of this kind are often, by reason of their location in
relation to shopping and business centres, providing accommodation for a
number of firms which in turn necessitates the sharing of toilet and washing
accommodation. These are the conditions and situations that present the