Just realised jymil you were referring to the requirements for the IR...it appears that the 50 hrs XC is for the issuance of the licence rather than to commence the course so I guess some of these 50 would be covered off during the IR itself?
Er.... not quite.
FCL.610 IR(H) – Prerequisites, experience and crediting
Applicants for an IR shall:
(a) hold:
(1) at least a PPL(H), and:
(i) the privileges to fly at night in accordance with FCL.810 i; or
(ii) an ATPL in another category of aircraft; or
(2) a CPL(H).
(b) have completed at least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as PIC in aeroplanes, helicopters or airships of which at least 10 hours shall be in helicopters.
(c) Applicants who have completed an ATP(H)/IR, ATP(H), CPL(H)/IR or CPL(H) integrated training course shall be exempted from the requirement in (b).