17.—(1) The Council shall pay the following expenses out of funds at its disposal:

(a) all expenses incurred by the Council, including the expenses of providing administrative support and secretarial assistance to registration boards and their committees;

(b) all expenses incurred by registration boards and their committees as a result of arrangements made under section 12(4).

(2) The Council may allocate in the manner that it may determine the surplus, if any, of funds at its disposal to—

(a) the development of education,

(b) research, or

(c) any other public purpose,

connected with any one or more than one of the designated professions.