Um hang on a mo....they may well be separate things...and always have been.
However, you cannot be pilot in command of a type that you do not have a class/type rating for...therefore unless you qualify for the MEP class rating you will be unable to take the flight test or renew the instrument rating. Even if the MEP isnt issued you must still have passed a skills test...
At least
AFAIK this is the case...hence all OATS students etc will have valid MEP class ratings (deemed by having passed a ME skills test) *before* their IRT.
FF