Pilot Pete
I received a letter from the CAA dated 27 March 2000.
The subject was "Arrangements to Issue a JAR-FCL CPL(A) Restricted to Use in UK Registered Aeroplanes". The paragraph titled "Upgrading to JAR-FCL ATPL(A)" made no mention of unfreezing or obtaining a JAR-FCL ATPL(A) by June 2002.
It did say "Pilots who have passed the UK ATPL(A) examinations and who hold a JAR-FCL CPL(A)(R) with Instrument Rating and a valid type rating on a multi-pilot aeroplane will be required to meet the following requirements for the issue of a JAR-FCL ATPL(A):
There then followed the usual unfreezing criteria i.e. 1500 hours total; 500 hours multi-pilot acft. etc etc
Nothing about "and shall be achieved by June 2002".
I surmise from this that with a JAR-FCL CPL(A)(R)/IR then your UK ATPL(A) credits are OK beyond June 2002 until, as you say, you unfreeze it.
Cheers.