§ 4. Mr. DONALDasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that county local committees in Ireland are depriving local sub-committees of their functions as sub-committees; and whether these county committees are entitled, under the procedure of committees regulations of the Ministry of Pensions, to interfere and withdraw from local sub-committees the function of making direct payments of allowances to men under treatment?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONDelegation by a local committee of any of its powers to a sub-committee it within the discretion 613 of the local committee, and it is competent to a local committee, under rules approved in accordance with Section 6 (1) of the War Pensions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1918, to withdraw any powers delegated to a sub-committee. I understand that, one or two local committees in Ireland have decided, in exercise of their powers, to vary the functions of their sub-committees by centralising the payment of allowances.