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from the passage of damp laden ground air into the house, as the tenant, a healthy man
of 80 years had lived there for 30 years and had not felt the need for complaint to the
authorities. The Registrar therefore directed the local authority to issue the Qualification
Certificate.
(5) Medical Priorities
At the end of 1969 there were 273 families who had been given medical priority
still waiting for accommodation and during the year 81 more were recommended for
preferential treatment on medical grounds. 87 families were rehoused in the year and
the categories of the 267 families with medical priority still awaiting rehousing on
31st December, 1970 are as follows :
Category A — To be used only when the medical condition of the
applicant is such that unless rehoused urgently there is an
immediate risk to his life or to the health of other persons 2*
Category B — To be used when the applicant's own health will deteriorate
if not rehoused but has not the same degree of urgency as
in Category A 118
Category C — To be used when there is a medical priority but where the
need for rehousing, though not urgent, would prevent the
applicant eventually becoming housebound or institutionalised 133
Families who are already tenants of the Council recommended for transfer
to more suitable accommodation 14
*Note.
Both these families have been offered alternative accommodation which they have
refused.
2. INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
(1) Meat Inspection
During the past year the importation of meat from France has increased. The
meat is delivered in refrigerated articulated lorries, which are sealed at the port of
entry and the meat is inspected as it is unloaded at the premises in the Borough which
partake in this trade. So far the importation has been confined to forequarters of
manufacturing-quality beef and this class of meat is usually cow beef. Some condemnations
have been made usually because of bruising or oedema. These conditions are
usually found when the cows have to be transported some distance to the abattoirs in
cattle lorries. Notifications of the arrival of meat consignments are sent to the Borough
from the various ports of entry, and the inspection of these consignments has entailed
quite an appreciable amount of extra work.
(2) Food Complaints
111 food complaints were received during the year and in the main followed the
pattern of previous years. Mould growths on bread, meat and fruit pies caused numerous
complaints during the summer months, despite the fact that all food traders were
given a letter reminding them of the danger and asking them to ensure proper rotation
of perishable products, and to ensure none were sold after the expiry of the recommended
shelf life. This warning has been given to food traders now for several years,
and although the majority of traders do co-operate there is always a minority who
disregard the most elementary precautions. One interesting complaint investigated was
from a restaurant. The proprietor had purchased a dozen plaice from a local fishmonger.
These were filleted, dipped in breadcrumbs and fried, and one customer complained of
yellow discoloration of the fish. The Public Analyst found that the permitted dye in
the bread-crumbs was so affected by heat and the presence of acid (vinegar) as to colour
the fish.
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