tired-boy - yes, we know, and it was explored before, but the fact remains that as Max Angle says about 50/50 I guess it turns out to be 'when ready' when you ask. The suggestion was that the 'Now' would act as an imperative (excluding the "two particular non-Brit nationalities", of course). Does the MATS quote actually PRECLUDE using the word just because it is not there?
Perhaps pilots should actually request 'descent clearance (?when ready?) if it is simply a case of getting in a request when there is an R/T gap?
HT - my apologies - you confused me by apparently 'batting for the other side'
So don't waste my time asking
(in the BEST possible taste, of course)