§ Major PRESCOTTasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will give the total deficiency in respect of irregularities on which the local war pensions committee of East Ham was recently suspended, and how the administrative work of pensions in that borough is now being carried out?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe officer of the Ministry appointed for the purpose of holding a public enquiry into the conduct of the East Ham Local War Pensions Committee reported that the estimated annual expenditure which was not sanctioned by any regulation of the Ministry was £25,551. In pursuance of the provision of Section 2, War Pensions Act, 1918, the Committee was suspended for twelve months as from February last and the Director-General of Local Administration of the Ministry was authorised to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Committee subject to any general or specific direction of the Minister of Pensions. An Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of ex-service men, widows, employers of labour has been appointed for the purpose of assisting the Ministry's representative.