jonno@nomail.com declared for all the world to hear...
> QUESTION: Is it legal to drive a car while using a mobile phone if the
> handset is held in a cradle on the dashboard and I am using a handsfree?

Yes. And no touching the device to initiate a call.

> Am assuming no voice-activated calls: I would have to press the buttons
> on the handset to make a call.

You'd be very hard done by to get caught doing that.

> I remember a law was passed a few years ago about not driving while
> holding a mobile. And then ISTR it was amended and I beleive it is
> being changed again at the end of Feb.

To introduce stiffer penalties.

> In case there's any confusion on account of PHF, Bluetooth, car kits,
> etc .... by "handsfree" I mean a wire from the phone to an earpiece and
> which looks something like this: http://tinyurl.com/3x57k5

My understanding is that as long as the phone is securely mounted and
you dont have to touch it, you're OK.
--
Regards
Jon