Jim Just did a APUG search and there is a thread with almost the exact same title as yours put in by r.e. Anyway it seems from the very few users I have seen that Ilford has got it about right at 5 mins. I think one member gave it 5.5 mins so maybe you can go to at least 5.5 mins
It would seem that you need to resist the urge to try Neopan 1600 at the next up development time quoted which is 9 mins. This is the general wisdom with Ilford's own D3200 i.e use the next speed up dev time.Someone, Hywel, in Malaysia I think, tried it and it was way too much.
So it looks as if 5-5.5 mins is about right although like you it does seem strange that in comparison Neopan 400 should require 7 mins. I have used 400 and 7 mins( maybe just a little too long) is about right so maybe we should just trust the Ilford time. I should add that I have no experience of Neopan 1600 but I am simply quoting a search.
pentaxuser