BEagle,
Good to know you were on the ball five or so years ago.
Presumably, there has been no change in the law that you have been made aware of, or consulted about. So this is just "someone at the CAA" deciding to change the procedures, even though the "rules" haven't changed. And that is why this is a surprise.
So, yes, I can sign someone off for a M if they have 11 hours SSEA and one hour micro, but I cannot now sign off their SSEA at the same time.
Even in central Scotland, that means a 50+ miles round trip to find an SSEA R examiner. Or do I apply for SSEA R, pay another CAA fee and then start charging people (I sign for free at the moment, since I get my R free with the paid for G!)
To be frank, do the BMAA care a stuff? It is SSEA revalidations - which are outside their patch - which will suffer, since SSEA Rs can still sign Ms. I think!