I feel sure that this consultation only arose out of the furious response to both the 'N Reg' issue
I think the above is absolutely right.
The anti N-reg proposal was so stupidly written so as to defy belief that anybody so clueless could be employed by the DfT at any level above a tea-lady. And informed people are convinced that the CAA was behind it all along... let's face it the CAA acts as a consultant to the DfT on all aviation matters; the GA Dept in the DfT freely admits they do next to nothing technical without asking the CAA for guidance.
So it does not suprise me that this was the last CAA straw for somebody who happens to have political influence.
Time to get writing!