No - they don't check the spare tyre - its not a requirement to even have one.
Is the chip/crack directly in your field of vision? If yes, its a fail. If no its ok, unless the crack touches the edge of the glass. If it does, thats a fail too.
As for break pads, was it an advisory note last year, in which case, assuming average mileage (12k a year) then they may need replacing. To ask how ling they should ask is like asking how long is a piece of string (depends on how break happy you are, how heavy footed you are when you do break, do you like pulling monster skids etc?
If you take it to Kwick Fit and they say they need doing - ask what the legal minimum is and get them to show you. If they're above the legal minimum - you're ok. Same applies for tyres....