Just on a detail point. Cliff Whittaker is "Head of Licensing & Training Policy", not head of licencing. In other words he's in charge of the policies, not the actual issue of licences.
I used to work opposite him when he was a design liaison surveyor, then policy manager in airworthiness - bloody sensible fellow who quietly did a great deal to support UK GA. (I've not spoken to him for a year or so however, so can't shed any light on this.)
G