Just to let you know - the service manager called and apologised it had taken so long to get the Mitsubishi key I posted about before.
Went to collect it on Friday morning. After being told it would be >100 quid - the final bill was £43.
23 for the key, 20 for programming - total time taken 5 minutes - and with no special tools or anything - just a trick with the engine management. They wouldn't show me what they did - but - they did not use any special kit.
Apparently my Space Star is the only model in the entire Mitsubishi UK range with the Bosch encrypted immobiliser in it - and thus the keys are a little pricey. Wel chuffed it wasn't over £100 tho.
So - ford_technical - I think I owe "the dealer" collective an apology :)
Cheers Dan.