A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

1933 Cont - 1934
1933 cont of medical officers of health and sanitary inspectors. See 1959.
Housing (Financial Provisions) Act (23&24 Geo.V, c.15) and for Scotland (c.16)
removed the power of the Minister of Health to grant subsidies under the acts of 1923 and
1924; emphasised that the Government's policy was to concentrate public effort and money
on the clearance and improvement of slum conditions; and that private enterprise would be
mainly relied on to provide ordinary working-class houses. See 1935.
Children and Young Persons' Act (23&24 Geo.V, c.12) consolidated and extended
legislation (see 1932) concerning employment of children; cruelty to children; exposure to
moral and physical danger; juvenile courts; and remand homes and approved schools. See
1938 and 1960.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act (23&24 Geo.V, c.25) dealt with the registration of
pharmacists; established a Poisons Board; and made provisions about the sale of poisons. See
1941.
Report of the Consultative Council on Medical and Allied Subjects of the Scottish
Department of Health recommended coordination of hospital services.
London County Council introduced a scheme to affiliate their major hospitals to
teaching hospitals in London.
The British Medical Association issued a report on nutrition.
The General Medical Council, recognising the changes in the duties of medical officers
of health following the act of 1929, revised its "Rules" concerning examinations for diplomas
in public health. The study of physiology and biochemistry in relation to hygiene, and of
mental hygiene, mental health services and of hospitals were added to the syllabus. See 1945.
The first edition of "The Sanitary Inspectors Handbook", by HH Clay, was published.
Influenza virus isolated for the first time.
Thirty miles per hour speed limit introduced in built-up areas. See 1934.
1934 Unemployment Act (24&25 Geo.V, c.29) improved and tightened up the national
insurance scheme, and transferred responsibility for dealing with transitional payments and
payments to those outside the scheme to the Unemployment Assistance Board - a new body
independent of the Ministry of Labour and of local government. Eligibility for relief was
widened but means testing on a family basis was continued, although with some alleviations.
The public assistance committees of the local authorities (see 1930) continued to handle local
destitution, mainly the sick and aged poor. The scales of benefits paid by the UAB were
uniform. This act followed the report of the Royal Commission on Unemployment Insurance
(1932, Cmd.4185). See 1946.
Road Traffic Act (24&25 Geo.V, c.50) amended the 1930 act; introduced driving tests,
pedestrian crossings, and regulations regarding pedal cycles; and led to the production of the
Highway Code. See 1967.
Milk Act (24&25 Geo.V, c.51) introduced central government subsidies for producing
tuberculin tested milk. See 1949.
Shops Act (24&25 Geo.V, c.42) regulated the employment of persons under the age of
18 years, and arrangements for the health and comfort of shop workers. See 1950.
Cheap or free milk introduced on a national basis for all children at school. See 1939.
Industrial Nursing Certificate offered for the first time by the College of Nursing and
Bedford College (London University). Later it became more widely available and in 1952 its
name was changed to Occupational Health Nursing Certificate.