So, I took my 2.2 to its MOT today and it passed, but with the condition that I replace the steering ball joints. The membranes were all cracked, but no play was present, so it passed.
As "luck" would have it, when they tested the brakes, a hose clamp snapped and coolant started dripping out one of the main hoses where it connects to the pipe running forward.
It just happened to choose that time to snap. No coolant outside or into the gate, just where they tested the brakes. I saw it when he put it on the lift and fortunately the shop could provide a new clamp. A check afterward showed no dicernable drop on coolant level in the expansion tank.
As an added positive, the car is now registered as antique (35 years), which means that the next MOT is 5 years, when it turns 40. After that MOTs are every 8 years.