Gudgen wrote:"play in wheel" could be anything. WOF inspectors aren't there to diagnose the fault, just to inspect.
Maybe if you work at a testing station.
if you have play shacking the wheel vertically back n forth, its more likely to be a wheelbearing or balljoint, use a pry bar under the wheel and get underneath with a spotty. if you feel play from side to side movement its more likely rack end or tie rod.
put your hand on the rack boot and grab the knuckle/shaft between your fingers, get someone to move wheel side to side, you will clearly feel the movement if its rooted. shine the torch on the tierod boot while youre at it. The pressed part of tierod will be moving away from the boot if it is. sometimes the movement will be there under load (wheels on ground).
If its a wheelbearing youl see the wheel only rock if you look from the inside. Try tighten first with a rattle gun before you replace it.