London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Harrow 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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The average amount of money spent by householders on the adapting of fireplaces was £85. The grant paid averaged £28 per claim received. The following figures show the amount of grant paid over the past five years:
| Amount of grant paid | No. of claims for grant | Average per claim (to nearest £) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | £19,742 | 975 | £20 |
| 1968 | £16,195 | 656 | £24 |
| 1969 | £23,341 | 877 | £27 |
| 1970 | £19,760 | 693 | £28 |
| 1971 | £14,517 | 506 | £28 |
The number and types of premises affected by Smoke Control Orders is as follows:
| Year | Total No. Premises | Number of dwellings | Number of other premises |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961/67 | 22,406 | 21,278 | 1,128 |
| 1968 | 6,185 | 5,246 | 939 |
| 1969 | 6,130 | 5,831 | 299 |
| 1970 | 2,648 | 2,526 | 122 |
| 1971 | 9,355 | 9,196 | 159 |
| Total | 46,724 | 44,077 | 2,647 |
At the end of the year a three year programme was accepted by the
Health Committee which will deal with the remaining properties in the
Borough. This will mean that the whole of Harrow will be affected by
Smoke Control Orders by the end of 1975 which was the target year set
for completion in 1960, when the first Order was made by the present
Authority's predecessor.
OFFICES, SHOPS AND RAILWAY PREMISES ACT, 1963.
It is becoming clear that there is an increasing awareness among
employees in offices and shops of the provisions of this Act and it is also
becoming clear that more and more employers are taking steps to ensure
that the standards maintained in places of employment exceed the minimum
that is called for by this statute.
Among the many changes noted was the trend for the shopping public
to make greater use of supermarkets with their car parking and other
facilities. This change appears to be taking its toll of many small traders
for the records reveal that over the past ten years 207 shops within the
Borough (mostly food shops) have closed. The majority of the premises
concerned were reopened either as a launderette, as an agency of one
kind or another, or as a betting shop.
While these premises remain affected by the provisions of the Offices
Shops and Railway Premises Act. the number of persons employed was
generally less, and staff moving to find employment often in the larger
supermarkets found them provided with toilet and other facilities much
more to their liking.