Personally I think that your Examiner should be required to cross-check ALL your paperwork before it goes off to the CAA. Your logbook should be up-to-date, your PPL application form all drafted out - so all you should have to do is to send it off as soon as you've passed the Skill Test having added the Skill Test flight time.....
I thought that the CAA was obliged under their charter to complete licence issue within 10 working days of having received the application. Assuming that it's been properly submitted, of course.