All IRs are Competency based, if you are not Competent, you don't pass the test! This statement in the NPA makes it quite clear there is only one standard irrespective of what you call the IR
A high uniform level of safety is ensured by requiring the applicants to pass exactly the same skill test as established already for the IR in Part-FCL.
There was a perfectly good ICAO IR in the UK before the JAA increased it by 26%. Initial CAA statistics showed that fewer candidates obtained a first time pass than on the shorter IR! Option 3 in the NPA looks very similar to the pre JAA course. A step back to reality perhaps.
The Exams are of dubious relevance however; what makes you assume that any new shorter exams will be of any more relevant or quality? The people producing these papers, who remain anonymous, have minimal knowledge on the subject, and there is little evidence to suggest they know anything about how to formulate an examination question. At 50 Euros a question are they even bothered?
and there are a few emails flying around between various national authorities.
I doubt it! There is very little internal communication, let alone cross Authority.