I'd just like to add my amazement at the CAA/JAR requirement to for overseas ICAO IR holders to have to complete a full 50 hour course. Throughout my 'conversion' my instructors and myself were constantly lobbying FCL to scrap this ridiculous necessity, with little luck. I think the CAA have there hands tied on the issue, it is the JAA saying that the full course has to be done. I don't mean to blow my own trumpet but I could have passed the IR first time with about 5 hours and I'm sure many other well-trained overseas IR's would do the same.