It's worse than that.
1st July 2002 is the big date, that if you don't meet the FULL requirements for an UNFROZEN ATPL (ie, 1500 hours inc 100 night etc etc etc) and have applied for it, then that's it as far as the natinal licences go.
I know plenty of people doing the old national licences with 200 hrs total time.
How are they going to get the requiremnts done by that date? My maths not up to much, but from where I'm sitting, it's not possible.
I guess the authorities are readying them selves for some interesting litigation cases, or a change of rules.
PS