53.—(1) For subsection (1) of section 135 (awards by social fund officers), there shall be substituted the following subsection—
“(1) Whether a payment mentioned in section 134(1)(b) above is to be awarded, and how much it is to be, shall be determined by an appropriate officer, that is to say, an officer of the Department who, acting under its authority, is exercising functions of the Department in relation to payments so mentioned.”.
(2) In subsection (2) of that section, for the words “A social fund officer” there shall be substituted the words “An appropriate officer”.
(3) Subsection (3) of that section shall cease to have effect.
(4) In subsection (4) of that section, for the words “that is to be repayable” there shall be substituted the words “of a crisis loan or a budgeting loan”.
(5) In subsection (5) of that section, for the words “the social fund officer” there shall be substituted the words “the appropriate officer”.