6.  His wife died on 10 May 1994. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on October 1997 and again in February 2000 and was rejected on 29 February 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows’ benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 7.  Mr Clancy was born in 1950 and lives in Cornwall. 8.  His wife died on 17 November 1997. He tried to claim for benefits in late November 1997 but was told he was not entitled. His actual claim for widows’ benefits was then made on 26 May 2000 and was rejected on 2 June 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows’ benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 9.  Mr Burt was born in 1950 and lives in Edinburgh. 10.  His wife died on 17 February 1997. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on 23 May 2000 and was rejected on 30 May 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows’ benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 11.  Mr Hill was born in 1939 and lives in Carmathenshire. 12.  His wife died on 28 March 1993. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on 28 May 1993 but the Benefits Agency did not accept to process his claim. He wrote to the Benefits Agency again on 8 May 2000 and was rejected on 15 May 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows’ benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 13.  Mr Lewis was born in 1944 and lives in Newport. 14.  His wife died on 11 July 1995. His claim for widows’ benefits was made in April 1999 and was rejected on 17 May 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widows’ benefits because he was not a woman. The applicant did not appeal as he considered or was advised that such a remedy would be bound to fail since no security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law.