§ 19. Captain MOREINGasked the Pensions Minister whether he will explain why he has closed the banking account of the East Ham Local War Pensions Committee and withdrawn their powers; and whether he is aware that the committee have in the past made themselves liable to surcharges amounting to £100,000?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSFrom the reports of the inspectors of my Department it appeared that the East Ham committee were making, and threatening to make, unauthorised payments out of public moneys committed to their charge. As a precautionary measure, I, therefore, stopped their power to draw upon public moneys. I ordered a local inquiry to be held into the action of the committee, and this is now proceeding.
§ 21. Mr. JOHN DAVISONasked the Pensions Minister whether the scale of expenses allowed to a member of a local war pensions committee is 1s. per hour for time lost through attending meetings of the committee; whether he is aware that, in comparison with the present earnings and the high cost of living, 1s. per hour does not meet the loss incurred; whether he is aware that members of local advisory committees under the Ministry of Labour are entitled to the actual wages lost up to a maximum of 20s. per day; and whether he will consider the advisability of adopting the same scale for members of war pensions committees?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI regret that am not yet in a position to make an announcement on this subject, which is being considered in consultation with other Departments.