Incorporation of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions2.
(1)
The person who at the coming into force of this Order is the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and any successors to that person shall be, by that name, a corporation sole.
(2)
The corporate seal of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions shall be authenticated by the signature of a Secretary of State, or of a person authorised by a Secretary of State to act in that behalf.
(3)
The corporate seal of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions shall be officially and judicially noticed, and every document purporting to be an instrument made or issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and—
(a)
to be sealed with that seal authenticated in the manner provided by paragraph (2) above, or
(b)
to be signed or executed by a person authorised as mentioned in that paragraph,
shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be so made or issued without further proof, unless the contrary is shown.
(4)
A certificate signed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions that any instrument purporting to be made or issued by him, by the Secretary of State for the Environment or by the Secretary of State for Transport was so made or issued shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.
(5)
(a)
as if references to orders and regulations included references to any document, and
(b)
as if the officers mentioned in column 2 of the Schedule included any officer authorised to act on behalf of the Secretary of State.