[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Northampton County Borough.

Sanitary Circumstances (continued) Treatment of business premises is carried out by contract or after survey and estimate of cost has been prepared for special solutions which may have to be purchased or made up to deal with the particular problem. The information below regarding the eradication of bed bugs is set out in the form required by the Ministry of Health (1) During 1960, infestations of bed bugs were found in 2 Council houses and 5 other houses. (2) Methods of disinfestation employed—^ first paragraph. (3) The furniture and effects of tenants from 8 bug-infested houses were treated prior to removal to Council houses. (4) The work of disinfestation is carried out by the Disinfestation Officer under the supervision of the public health inspectors. (5) Remedial measures are explained to tenants when premises are treated, so as to prevent re-infestation. Canal Boats. The following is extracted from the annual report under Section 249 (3) of the Public Health Act, 1936, prepared for the Ministry of Health :— Owing to the acute shortage in the staff of public health inspectors, it was not possible for any time to be devoted to this work. The number of boats on the register believed to be in use is three. No cases of infectious disease were notified and no boats were detained for disinfection. Factories. The following table 6 gives particulars of premises on the register and work done under the Factories Act, 1937, in the form prescribed by the Ministry of Labour and National Service. Table 6. Northampton C.B., 1960. Administration of the Factories Act, 1937. 1-—Inspections made by the Public Health Inspectors for purposes of provisions as to health. Premises Number Number of on Register Inspections Written notices Occupiers prosecuted Factories in which Sections 1,2, 3, 4, and 6 are enforced by the Local Authority ... Factories not included above in which Section 7 is en¬ forced by the Local Auth¬ ority . 65 592 105 41 — — Other Premises in which Sec¬ tion 7 is enforced by the Local Authority (excluding outworkers’ premises, but including electrical stations, institutions, and sites of building operations and works of engineering con¬ struction) . 41 TOTALS . 698 146