The Lord Chancellor intrusted as aforesaid, where it seems expedient, may consolidate or carry on together similar proceedings before him in the matters of several persons being members of the same family, and may in that case, and also where it does not seem expedient that the proceedings should be consolidated or carried on together, use in the matter of one member of a family evidence filed or taken in the matter of another member or other members of the same family, when and so far as it may be applicable.