Just checked in various manuals:
The Austin/Rover repair manual published 1984 does not mention or show the springs
Hanyes number 718, A series Metro also neither shows nor mentions them
Hanes number 1711 Metro May 1990 to 1998 refers to them as "brake shoe retainer springs and pins" and shows them.
However, I can also remember removing them on older cars, both Midas and Mini