I am Head of Training of a Uk ATO. FE, CRE, TRE which includes the privilege of teaching and examining for the the UK IMCr or IRR if we want to use the correct term.
I have questioned this previously and received condfirmation from CAA policy in writing that any flying hours in aeroplanes count regardless of the licence on which they were flown. The IMCR is a national rating and thus the CAA have total control over what is acceptable for it. That discretion is filtered down to the Instructor and the Examiner.
Guys, why do we have to try and make more difficult than it is by making up rules that don't exist? The whole point of the IMCr is to improve safety and it's meant to be accessible. The fact that it's a national rating means the Eurocrats have not managed to get there hands on it. Let's enjoy that......