I live up a very rough track and when driving along it my steering wheel "rattles" from side to side. There is no apparent play in the steering linkages and track rod ends were replaced. When I move the steering wheel the wheels move without any play. I have bought a set of bushes for the steering column - would these cure the problem do you think before I strip it all down.?

 

Sounds like the steering bushes and it is an easy fix so go ahead and change them. My steering had a shake to it and a slight movement in the column so I stripped mine down and found the old bushes had broken up and I was able to pour them out of the column. Just make sure they are well greased when reassembling and only a couple of weeks ago we were talking about what lubricant to use on the bushes in another thread.

 

You are definitely on the right track by installing new steering bushes.
I have done a few of these in my time as I have restored or resurrected 5 Mk1s and 5 MK2s.over the last 40 years