23.—(1) Any application by a hazardous substances authority for hazardous substances consent must be made to the Secretary of State.
(2) Regulations 5 to 8, 10 and 11(2) apply to the making of such an application as they apply to applications made to a hazardous substances authority.
(3) For the purpose of regulation 20, an application made to the Secretary of State by a hazardous substances authority is to be treated as an application made to the hazardous substances authority and referred to the Secretary of State under section 20.
(4) Section 9 (other than subsection (2)(e)) applies in relation to an application made to the Secretary of State by a hazardous substances authority as it applies in relation to an application made to a hazardous substances authority.
(5) For the purpose of section 22, a decision of the Secretary of State on an application made to him by a hazardous substances authority is to be treated as a decision under section 20.