BEagle
Thanks for your reply. It was not my intention to try and belittle the expertise or training of our military friends, I know that they are a superb bunch and I think it is just and right that they should be exempt most of the exams. (I'm ex-military myself back in the mists of time!).
It's your last paragraph which hits the nail on the head for me. There should be some upgrade examinations from CPL to ATPL rather than doing the whole lot again.
For ATPL(H)/IR to ATPL(A)/IR (or vice-versa) there are "bridging examinations". The CAA, bless them, will not let me take these exams, despite the fact that I hold a JAR ATPL(H)/IR ,because it was issued on the basis of my UK licence.
So now there are two different types of ATPL. For one type (gained through JAR exams) the pilot is credited with sufficient knowledge merely to do the "bridging exams". For the second type (gained through the UK system) the pilot is credited with no knowledge at all and must do all the exams!
How can they allow me to continue flying if I am credited with no theoretical knowledge at all? Was the UK system so bad that the exams, passed by the majority of today's professional pilots, are worthless?