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LONDON (HEATHROW) AIRPORT NOISE INSULATION GRANTS SCHEME
The Council continued to act as agents to the British Airports Authority in the administration
of this scheme and public health inspectors dealt with applications for grant from qualified
applicants in the defined area concerned. The amount of grant is 60% or a maximum of £150 of
the reasonable cost of the sound insulation works carried out, after taking into account the full
value of all incentives and discounts provided by builders, contractors or suppliers. Applications
for grant must be accompanied by supporting estimates fully itemised to show the costs of each
element of the work. All applicants are told that before soundproofing works are carried out they
must obtain the written notification from the Council that the application qualifies for grant. They
are also advised to ensure that the completed works are approved before paying for the work.
The closing dates for lodging applications and for completing insulating works have been extended
by two years. Applications must be made before 31st December, 1972 and the works completed
by the end of December 1973. For the first time since the grant scheme was inaugurated the
British Airports Authority have formulated a cost yardstick as a guide to the "cost of insulation
works reasonably incurred". This authority has made several representations in the past that such
a cost yardstick should have been formulated for the purpose of attaining uniformity with the
other authorities participating in the scheme. The cost of insulation works above the cost yardstick
is borne by the applicant. Details of applications dealt with during the year are as follows:
No. of applications received during 1970 62
No. of applications granted during 1970 62
No. of applications dealt with since the start of the scheme
on 1 st January, 1966 631
No. of private dwellings within the defined area 6,000
CONSUMER PROTECTION
The Consumer Protection Act, 1961 authorises the Secretary of State by Regulation to
impose safety requirements and warning instructions for certain classes of goods. Details of the
work carried out in the enforcement of certain of these Regulations is set out below:
The Heating Appliances (Fireguards) Regulations, 1953 and the Oil Heaters Regulations,
1962: During 1970 inspections were made of 9 premises selling oil heaters, gas fires or electrical
fires. No contraventions of the Regulations were noted. Two investigations were made of premises
where fires involving oil heaters had occurred and in both cases the heaters were so damaged
that it was not possible to verify whether the heaters complied with Regulations before the fire.
An examination was made of heaters on the premises of retailers of the appliances and no
contraventions were observed.
It is general practice when inspecting premises in multiple occupation to draw attention to
these Regulations and also to the provisions of the Childrens and Young Persons Act concerning
guarding of open fires.
The Night Dresses (Safety) Regulations, 1967: These Regulations require that night dresses
for children must be made of flame-proof material and that women's nightdresses must be of
flame-proof material or clearly and conspicuously marked to indicate that they are not flame
proofed. Night dresses examined at 46 premises were found to comply with the Regulations.
TOYS (SAFETY) REGULATIONS, 1967
These Regulations require that, subject to certain exceptions, no persons may sell or have
in his possession for sale a toy not complying with the standards set out. The use of celluloid,
which is inflammable, is prohibited except for ping pong balls. Restrictions are imposed in relation
to the paint which may be used on toys limiting the amounts of lead, arsenic, soluble antimony,
barium, cadmium or chromium. The Regulations also apply to toys which were manufactured
before the effective date of the Regulations, i.e. 1st November, 1967.
Suspect toys are purchased and submitted to the Public Analyst for examination. 18 toys
were purchased for examination in 1970, 7 of which were found to be painted with paint con-
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