Re the speculation that paper licences are to be phased out in 2015:
Hansard - 4th September 2013
"Although existing legislation allows us to make the surrender of paper driving licences compulsory there are no current plans to require this. The European directive on driving licences does however require that all driving licences issued or in circulation must be in the form of photocard by 19 January 2033."
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm130904/text/130904w0003.htm#130904w0003.htm_wqn26
Also from that link - "In Great Britain on the 30 August 2013, 9,751,572 individuals held a valid paper driving licence as compared to 35,306,492 photo card driving licence holders."