Some help please with IR / IMC / CPL/IR
Can anyone kindly put me out of my misery by explaining something to me please?
Upon completion of my PPL(A) (by next year), I want to progress to CPL/ATPL level, but am having difficulty understanding what contributions various ratings have to one another - especially the Instrument Ratings.
If I take my IMC, does this contribute any hours/effort towards the full Intrument Rating? And does the full-blown IR count towards my CPL/IR?
Finally, I understand some Flight Simulator time may contribute towards my PPL(A) - is this true, and if so - how much time? Is there a particular "class" of simulator that is required to be counted?
Sorry to bombard with so many questions - but any advice (in plain terms please) would be very much appreciated.