Joseph Houghton v Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors

Facts

The appellant, Joseph Houghton, applied to the Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors for a third trainee licence. On 24 April 2026 the Registrar refused the application, and the appellant appealed to the General Regulatory Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. The appeal was listed for a remote oral hearing by CVP on 23 September 2026, at which the appellant participated and made submissions directed at the refusal; the Respondent was not represented. The hearing bundle contained the appellant's test record, which showed that the appellant had failed the Part III examination, the test of instructional ability and fitness, on 19 January 2026 and 25 June 2026. A third and final attempt was booked for 7 October 2026, which the appellant confirmed in oral evidence. By a Form GRC5 dated 8 October 2026 the Respondent's representative applied to strike out the appeal under rule 8(3)(c) of the Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (General Regulatory Chamber) Rules 2009, stating that the appellant had failed the third attempt on 7 October 2026 and relying on regulation 14(b) of the Motor Cars (Driving Instruction) Regulations 2005. The application was shared with the appellant, who did not respond. Judge Kenneth Mullan determined the matter.