Pedge wrote:
Actually, looking at the way these tiles are coming off i'm not sure if
they are vinyl as these just chip off in small bits when hitting them with
the hammer and wall scraper.

Probably vinyl asbestos on bitumen adhesive on latex levelling compound
on concrete. You can get a tool to remove these, which looks like a big
single-sided razor blade (8" wide! but not so sharp!) on a long handle
like a broom handle. Go to a BM such as Jewson to get one. You just
push it under them & they come off eventually. Try and not dig into
the levelling compound, if it's there (a sort of soft cementy sort of
stuff). You won't be able to get the black off.