Yes Brian bit of a grey area this one, I have a friend who is a mot tester and he said it would fail on the steering lock, but they don't always check so it's a bit of a risk, not sure on if it's not present as mine is totally gone it had to be drilled out, but I read it somewhere whereas if there is a mechanism there to activate the lock then it has to function if it doesn't then it's a instant failure, on most cars ours included, the mechanism that activates the steering lock happens when you remove the key, it makes a slight click clunk, that's the lock primed, so,then it has to function, there's a lot of ins and outs on this one my mechanic said it wouldn't be a problem but I looked at it a different way, what about when I come to sell the car and the perspective buyer realises there's no lock in there they would think the car had been stolen at some point and joyridden before being returned to the rightful owner, so for the sake of 30 odd quid and the 40 to fit it I might as well get it done then it's right.
Again thanks to you Brian for finding the part I needed.