Thanks for all the info chaps, it's pretty much as I'd suspected though, the usual political balls-up/vested interests etc. taking priority. Still I think I'll do my IMC anyway and hope for the best in the future. Also, agree completely with the point a couple of you made about staying current, an instructor friend commented that any IR was very much 'Use it or lose it'.
Continuing VMC to all.
Be seeing you...
dB