26.—(1) Any application by a hazardous substances authority for hazardous substances consent shall be made to the Secretary of State.
(2) Regulations 5 to 8 shall apply to the making of such applications as they apply to applications made to a hazardous substances authority.
(3) For the purpose of regulation 23, an application made to the Secretary of State by a hazardous substances authority shall 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)) shall apply 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 shall be treated as a decision under section 20.