A statement contained in a document purporting to be—
and to be authenticated by a person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State shall be admissible in any proceedings as evidence of any fact stated therein to the same extent as oral evidence of that fact is admissible in those proceedings.
In subsection (1) above " document" and " statement" have the same meanings as in section 10(1) of the Civil Evidence Act 1968, and the reference to a copy of a document shall be construed in accordance with section 10(2) of that Act; but nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting to civil proceedings the references to proceedings in subsection (1) above.
Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall enable evidence to be given with respect to any matter other than a matter of the prescribed description.
In its application to Scotland this section shall have effect as if—