Thanks to all for advice. Of course I do not want any member of my family to drive around in a structurally dangerous vehicle. However, as recently discussed, only 2% of accidents are caused by vehicle defects, most are caused by driver errors. When my daughter suffered failure of a rear shock absorber turret, she came to no harm. Life is a risky business. I reckon climbing stairs is more dangerous than motoring.
The tester is one I have used for many years. However, he is a one fo 2 partners in a thriving small garage business, and I would not put it past him to fail a car on rust to make work for his body shop. My first cill repair earned him £250. Then I bought a welder and now do my own. On this test he enquired who had done the cills, then set about my car with a pry bar.