5.—(1) Where—

(a) by virtue of section 1 (3) (d) of this Act, an employer becomes insolvent for the purposes of this Act, or

(b) an employer otherwise becomes insolvent for such purposes and there is not for the time being in relation to the insolvency a relevant officer,

the Minister may appoint as regards such insolvency a person under this subsection.

(2) Where the Minister makes an appointment under this section the following provisions shall apply:

(a) the functions assigned by this Act to a relevant officer shall, as regards the employer concerned, be performed by, and only by, the person to whom the appointment relates, or, if through illness or because his appointment is revoked or for any other reason the person so appointed is unable to perform such functions, another person so appointed, and

(b) for so long as the appointment remains in force, each of the references to a relevant officer in sections 6, 7 and 8 of this Act shall be construed as including a reference to the person to whom the appointment relates.