23.—(1) Whenever the F154[appropriate Minister] makes an order under this Act on the application or at the request of any person, F155[that Minister] may, if he thinks proper so to do, recover from such person as a civil debt the expenses incurred by F155[that Minister] in making and publishing such order.

(2) In any proceedings to recover any expenses made recoverable by this section, a certificate under the official seal of the F156[appropriate Minister] certifying that a specified order under this Act was made on the application or at the request of a specified person and certifying the amount of the expenses incurred by F157[that Minister] in making and publishing such order shall be conclusive evidence of the matters so certified.