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Style, seal and acts of Secretary of State

4.—(1) The person who, at the coming into force of this Order, is the Secretary of State for either of the new Departments and his successors shall be a corporation sole (with a corporate seal) by the name of the Secretary of State for Health or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State for Social Security.

(2) The corporate seal of the Secretary of State for either of the new Departments shall be authenticated by the signature of a Secretary of State, or of a Secretary to that Department, 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 either of the new Departments shall be officially and judicially noticed, and every document purporting to be an instrument made or issued by the Secretary of State for that Department, and to be sealed with that seal authenticated in the manner provided by paragraph (2) above, or to be signed or executed by a Secretary to that Department, or a person authorised as above, 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 either of the new Departments that any instrument purporting to be made or issued by him was so made or issued shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.