This has been covered a few months ago,officially a new clearance invalidates the previous one, and if a restriction is still needed this has to be re-stated, in this example "descend FL140 to cross ABCDE at FL180 or below".
On SIDs, a clearance to a higher level than the SID altitude does not abdicate you from the responsibility of making the required (minimum) climb gradients of the initial part of the SID.
In the Scottish TMA we teach this way so that there is no misunderstanding as to what the pilots are expected to do.
There are, however, some people who believe that this is not the case, so if you have any doubt please ask, you may get a sharp response but at the end of the day have a smug smile in the cockpit !
Hope this helps.....
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FATCO
[This message has been edited by The Fat Controller (edited 29 August 2000).]
[This message has been edited by The Fat Controller (edited 29 August 2000).]