Would agree completely Cosmo, individual states do indeed have differencies/exemptions from ICAO.
Now, IF the UK does in this instance, perhaps you would like to give a reference to same, and a link if at all possible.
And, yes, I have probably spent much more time flying on the eastern side of the great devide...about thirty years worth.
My first ops to LHR were in 1974, in a B707.
And yes, they are indeed nice folks...but then again I have a personal preference for the ATC folks in AMS, and the Netherlands in general...which are certainly just as professional (if not better) than in the UK.