An update regarding my situation which, hopefully, some may find useful.
18 August 2022
Annual service by local MB Specialist who highlighted the rear subframe has a hole in it
19 August 2022
Car booked in with my local MB dealer for inspection
Earliest date available is mid-September
13 September 2022
Local MB dealer has the car for two days and confirms the hole in the rear subframe and refers to MB UK
MB UK authorise FOC replacement as the subframe is considered to result in an MOT failure
New rear subframe ordered but currently out of stock with no eta available
14 October 2022
Local MB dealer advises subframe has arrived
Earliest date available for works is early November
8 November 2022
Local MB dealer has the car for two days and new rear subframe installed
Car now drives and feels much better - firmer and more assured on the road
The key takeaway is the criteria MB UK are using to authorise these works - the corrosion has to be sufficient enough to lead to an MOT failure - so if it is surface corrosion, MB UK are likely to reject the claim - if it is a hole, or similar, then they will approve the claim. Personally, I think if the rear subframe shows any signs of corrosion it should be covered by MB UK as we all know that, even though it shouldn't be the case, you can have variances between MOT testers in what they pass and fail.
Overall, I didn't have the best of experiences with my local MB dealer - when I dropped off the vehicle for its inspection, they tried to hustle me by saying MB UK may not cover the replacement cost as my vehicle does not have a full MB dealer service history - I swiftly challenged this and advised I would not accept this as a valid reason for possible claim rejection. Further, I was car less each time the car went in and, when the car went in for the actual works, had to insist the work was done within two days (they actually argued they needed it for three days) as I couldn't be car less beyond that.
However, the works, which I understand could run up to a couple of thousand GBP in cost is done FOC and in time for my MOT - I can now concentrate on getting the tyres changed and the car submitted for its MOT.