12.—(1) If a Minister’s approval certificate has been lost or defaced, an application for issue of a replacement for the original certificate may be made, either orally or in writing, to the Secretary of State at the place from which the original certificate was issued.
(2) The application shall—
(a)specify the identification number of the vehicle in respect of which the original certificate was issued; and
(b)be accompanied by the prescribed fee.
(3) As soon as reasonably practicable after he receives the application and fee, the Secretary of State shall issue to the applicant a replacement for the certificate to which the application relates and any such replacement shall have the same effect as the certificate which it replaces and shall be marked “replacement”.