"Mortimer"  gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

>>> Are cars with foot-operated "handbrakes" actually legal in the UK (as
>>> opposed to the US where they are common) - do they satisfy the
>>> Construction and Usage regulations? How is one supposed to do a hill
>>> start in one - or are they only fitted to automatic cars?

>> No, they're on manuals as well - and of course they're legal...
>>
>> There's a hand-operated release on the dash.
>>
>> To put it on - push the pedal down, and push the release in. To release
>> - push the pedal down slightly, and pull the release, then release the
>> pedal.
>>
>> You CAN just pull the release, but (at least, on the XM I'm used to it
>> on) it's a nice way to get bits of dashboard in your teeth...

> So even though it's got a hand release, it's inadvisable to use it on
> its own. So how do you coordinate releasing the handbrake with releasing
> the clutch (you need the same foot to do both)?

Mine was an automatic. I did have a manual for a weekend, and don't 
really recall a great issue - but <shrug>

> Whay do they make it so difficult for themselves?

Because they planned to sell the car in the US, against Merc, and Merc 
did exactly that (as do many 'merkin manufacturers)