I'm not sure Simon's understanding is right.
"If someone was "taught" by a PPL, does that mean the hours are loggable as student pilot, but are not counted in the 45 minimum for a PPL?"
Aren't there still PPL FI's around despite the fairly recent change in the Regs which means new FIs now have to qualify as CPLs first?
Don't hours under instruction by them count towards the minimum hours required for a PPL?
Just asking - I don't know.