Sorry for the delay. Finally managed to check what you asked.

Took fuse 25 out and ignition in, no brake lights so correct fuse, gear display works fine through all Gears.

Thanks, I was kinda expected that after i've spent several hours researching this "oddity" unfortunately i have only RAVE to rely on and the dillema is even deeper than before now...i'm not gonna start this cos it's long and complicated i tell you just that your test proves that the dash indication is not on that F25's path so the fact that the R comes on doesnt mean that the reverse switch contact of the XYZ switch is good...sorry for that, was my mistake thinking that but even now after serious research i can't understand how that works unless RAVE is wrong, if you want to continue with that just let me know and we'll get to the end of it to be 100% sure where's the problem, the ultimate test would be to get to C0675 and bridge pins 1 and 2 then if you get reverse lights it's 100% that the XYZ switch is the problem cos you can bridge C0668 pins 1-2 too which is easyer i'm almost positive you'll get reverse lights then but that doesnt rule out an interruption in the gearbox loom between the console and the switch cos that's quite common too....and make sure there's feed on C0668 -2 GY wire, that's important too

Will have another go it trying to get to the plug near the gearbox this weekend and see if I can test if power is coming from the switch and as you say may be not getting up to the plug near the window switches.

Before you do that make sure that there is feed at the console switch(C0688-2 GY) and bridge it with pin 1 to see if the lamps are coming on or not to not crawl under in vain