Failed the small test, but nothing too bad:

1. Front brake hoses "might" touch bottom suspension wishbone. I suppose looking at it, if I hit a hothole it "might" happen. I talked about moving the mounting point of the brake pipe, but it was suggested that I could use a pipe "Like on a mini metro which has got armour plating"... I think it looks like a spring coil running up the length of the flexi hose. Can you buy this stuff, or will I need to replace the flexi hoses? Any ideas?

2. Missing lock nut on panard rod/bar. Someone hit me for this - what an idiot, my only excuse is I forgot. I didn't have it at the time of assy and didn't remember to do it before the test.

3. Parking brake ineffective. I did wonder about this as my handbrake is quite hard to operate. I'm using a construction as per "Ron C's" book. Allegro cables, a home made balance bar, connected to Escort 2 lever. Problem here is that escort only had 1 brake cable operating both sides via linking bar. Therefore thinking about it I've lost half the mechanical advantage in my handbrake lever, hence dodgy parking brake... anyone got any ideas on how to rectify this?

I think the pre MOT is a great idea. I had one before my SVA and if it wasn't for the very helpful guy at the MOT, I would have failed miserably.
I have an escort handbrake and cables and it has a bar from the handbrake to a balance bar which then goes into 2 cables.
Can't you get this setup for you car?

Re Brake hose move the bracket --- the type with coil springs over them are design to stop damage by stones.. If you are using proper rubber hoses you can also give the hose a slight curve by rotating it a few degrees on the bracket.

Re Handbrake was it ineffective one or both sides ?
Which model and mark of axle are you using ?(mk1 brakes are very different from MK2)
Did you adjust the brake shoes before you fitted the cable ?

Yes I agree with the pre-SVA MOT - a very good idea, expecially as my test station is only 1/2 a mile away. Quite far enough until someone else has given your work the seal of aproval (or not in my case)!

The handbrake was equally ineffective on both sides - Service brake passed fine.

My setup sounds just like Tigger's with the handbrake pulling a bar, connected to a balance bar connected to 2 brake cables connected to either side of the car.

My donor car is a Mk2 1100 1976 Escort . It has a self adjusting mechanism which is clean and apparently operating. I've adjusted the handbrake so that the cables are just slack when the lever is released. However you need to be quite strong to operate it and it only moves by 2 clicks. As I said it is almost as if there isn't sufficient mechanical advantage to pull the cables. Much harder to operate than my normal car...