5.  Mr Terril was born on 25 April 1956 and lives in London. 6.  His wife died on 2 October 1999. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on 9 March 2000 and was rejected on 24 March 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widow’s 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 social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 7.  Mr Silkstone was born on 27 February 1951 and lives in Lancashire. 8.  His wife died on 19 October 1998. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on 24 November 1999 and was rejected on 28 February 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widow’s 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 social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 9.  Mr Blannin was born on 5 October 1948 and lives in Cirencester. 10.  His wife died on 30 March 1993. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on 18 July 2000 and was rejected on 28 July 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widow’s 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 social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 11.  Mr Lines was born on 26 January 1954 and lives in Edinburgh. 12.  His wife died on 20 January 2000. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on 13 June 2000 and was rejected on 27 June 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widow’s 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 social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 13.  Mr Harrison was born on 28 November 1951 and lives in Staffordshire. 14.  His wife died on 5 May 1996. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on 4 May 2000 and was rejected on 6 June 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widow’s 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 social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 15.  Mr Turner was born on 7 November 1955 and lives in Cardiff. 16.  His wife died on 8 April 2000. His claim for widows’ benefits was made in August 2000 and was rejected on 16 August 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widow’s 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 social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law. 17.  Mr Hyland was born on 7 June 1959 and lives in Kent. 18.  His wife died on 26 January 1999. His claim for widows’ benefits was made on 3 September 2000 and was rejected on 11 September 2000 on the ground that he was not entitled to widow’s 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 social security benefits were payable to widowers under United Kingdom Law.