Paddy,
I've also been trying to import various bits of NTF data (both vector and
raster - the raster is in old 1.2 format)
I've not had any response on this yet. I do believe that the University
of Leicester have done some work on this because they have a 'GRASSBox'
which contains info. on 'importing Ordinance Survey data', which is
presumably NTF.
It'd be nice to have a proper 'v.in.ntf' and 'r.in.ntf' functions, but
Ive not got the time/resources to put them together yet. We are trying to
get approval for a small catchment characteristics program, which will
involve importing said NTF data. If that gets the go-ahead, I'll try and
put something together - warning though, I'm an OK programmer 
Steve Culshaw
NRA North West
e-mail : nra@cix.compulink.co.uk (general usage)
or sculshaw@cix.compulink.co.uk (Private - only checked at best
weekly)