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
Walthamstow 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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21
Social Conditions.—No change from 1931 Report.
Unemployment.—The degree of unemployment in the area
during 1932 may be estimated from the following data kindly
supplied by Mr. W. H. Goodfellow, Manager of the Local Employment
Exchange.
The total insured workpeople of both sexes in Walthamstow is
approximately 24,000, and a test showed that roughly two-thirds
of the figures given below related to persons residing in Walthamstow
(excluding Juveniles).
The following data refer to the whole Exchange Area:—
| Date. | No. remaining on Register. | Amount of benefit paid during month £ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men. | Women. | Total. | ||
| 25-1-32 | 8,237 | 1,336 | 9,573 | 29,772 |
| 22-2-32 | 8,353 | 1,402 | 9,755 | 31,125 |
| 21.3-32 | 8,270 | 1,404 | 9,674 | 31,243 |
| 25-4-32 | 8,073 | 1,454 | 9,527 | 37,772 |
| 23-5-32 | 7,845 | 1,466 | 9,311 | 29,920 |
| 27-6-32 | 7,889 | 1,402 | 9,291 | 36,577 |
| 25-7-32 | 7,683 | 1,449 | 9,132 | 29,279 |
| 22-8-32 | 7,642 | 1,282 | 8,924 | 28,665 |
| 26-9-32 | 7,873 | 1,105 | 8,978 | 34,756 |
| 24-10-32 | 8,000 | 1,051 | 9,051 | 27,510 |
| 21-11-32 | 8,077 | 1,259 | 9,336 | 26,519 |
| 26-12-32 | 8,967 | 1,677 | 10,644 | 36,032 |
Between 25th January, 1932, and 26th December, 1932, a
total of £379,170 was paid out in benefits, two-thirds of this
amount (approximately representing the Walthamstow proportion)
being £252,780.
The corresponding figures for 1931 were £312,872 and
£208,580 respectively and the large increases during 1932 plainly
show the continued unemployment with its consequent menace to
the public health.
Mr. Dempsey states that the following were the registrations at the Juvenile Employment Bureau:—
| Fresh Applications:— | Boys. | Girls. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insured (over 16 years) | 474 | 427 | 901 |
| Not insured (under 16 years) | 524 | 474 | 998 |
| Re-registrations:— | |||
| Insured | 811 | 392 | 1,203 |
| Not insured | 581 | 526 | 1,107 |