Part IV Legal proceedings
Evidence
52 Records.
1
A statement to which this section applies is admissible in any proceedings as evidence (or, in Scotland, sufficient evidence) of any fact stated in it with respect to matters prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State to the same extent as oral evidence of that fact is admissible in the proceedings.
2
This section applies to a statement contained in a document purporting to be—
a
a part of the records maintained by the Secretary of State in connection with any functions exercisable by him under or by virtue of this Act,
b
a copy of a document forming part of those records, or
c
a note of any information contained in those records,
and to be authenticated by a person authorised to do so by the Secretary of State.
3
In subsections (1) and (2) “statement” and “document”—
a
in England and Wales, have the same meanings as in section 10(1) of the M1Civil Evidence Act 1968,
b
in Scotland, have the same meanings as in F1Schedule 3 to the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993, and
c
in Northern Ireland, have the same meanings as in section 6(1) of the M2Civil Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.
4
In subsection (2) the reference to a copy of a document is to be construed—
a
in England and Wales, in accordance with section 10(2) of the M3Civil Evidence Act 1968,
b
in Scotland, in accordance with F2Schedule 3 to the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993, and
c
in Northern Ireland, in accordance with section 6(2) of the M4Civil Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.
5
Nothing in subsection (3) or (4) limits to civil proceedings the references to proceedings in subsection (1).