The F1Secretary of State shall, by virtue of this Act, have for the purposes of any Act, public general or local or private, making provision for the execution of improvements on settled land, all such powers and authorities as he has for the purposes of the M1Improvement of Land Act, 1864.

The provisions of the last-mentioned Act relating to proceedings and inquiries, and to authentication of instruments, and to declarations, statements, notices, applications, forms, security for expenses, inspections and examinations, shall extend and apply, as far as the nature and circumstances of the case admit, to acts and proceedings done or taken by or in relation to the F2Secretary of State under any Act making provision as last aforesaid.

The provisions of any Act relating . . . F3 to security for costs to be taken in respect of the business transacted under the Acts administered by the F4Secretary of State as successor of the Land Commissioners for England shall extend and apply to the business transacted by or under the direction of the F4Secretary of State under any Act, public general or local or private, by which any power or duty is conferred or imposed on him as such successor.