Citations: [1998] EWCA Civ 1821, [1999] 3 FCR 574, [1999] 1 FLR 1233, [1999] Fam Law 297 Links: Bailii Statutes: Child Support Act 1991 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Child Support Updated: 27 November 2022; Ref: scu.145300
Statutory extensions of the council’s duty to provide new kinds of care, did not take away the authority’s power to charge for services given under the original section. The council may charge for community care services in the home provided to disabled person. Subsection (2) states that the section applies to services provided under a … Continue reading Regina v Powys County Council ex parte Hambridge: CA 2 Jul 1998
Citations: [1998] EWCA Civ 920, [1999] 1 WLR 163 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: See Also – Secretary of State for Social Security v Harmon SSCS 5-Jun-1998 . . Cited by: Cited – Farley v Child Support Agency and Another; Farley v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (No. 2) HL 28-Jun-2006 … Continue reading Secretary of State for Social Security and Another v Harmon and Another: CA 5 Jun 1998
The Secretary of State having decided against an application for asylum could direct non-payment of benefits although he would hear representations. Held: Regulation 70(3A)(b)(i) defines a date by reference to the recording by the Secretary of State of the claim for asylum as having been determined. There is no reference to notification. The reference to … Continue reading Salem v Secretary of State for Home Department: CA 6 Mar 1998
The requirement that an applicant for income support must show ‘Habitual residence’ required a demonstration that in the applicant was in the UK voluntarily for settled purposes and an appreciable time should pass before income a support claim was made. (Thorpe, L.J. dissenting) Judges: Morritt, L.J. and Sir Christopher Staughton, Thorpe, L.J Citations: Times 11-Feb-1998, … Continue reading Nessa v Chief Adjudication Officer: CA 5 Feb 1998
A student moving from a full time to a part time basis within his course is not to be debarred from claiming benefits on the change of status. Citations: Times 11-Jul-1997, Gazette 16-Jul-1997, [1997] EWCA Civ 1998 Statutes: Social Security and Benefits Act 1992 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Benefits Updated: 15 October 2022; Ref: scu.142395
The defendant appealed his conviction for obtaining property by deception where part of the offence had taken place abroad. Held: Smith should be overturned. The last act or terminatory theory remains the binding common law of England and Wales. The correct rule was that before an English court could try an offence it was necessary, … Continue reading Regina v Manning: CACD 24 Jun 1998
The Secretary of State had introduced regulations which excluded the statutory right to payment of ‘urgent case’ benefits for asylum seekers who had not claimed asylum immediately upon arrival, or whose claims for asylum had been rejected, and who were awaiting appeal. Held: Leaving asylum applicants without benefits defeated the purpose of the asylum laws. … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Social Security Ex Parte B and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants: CA 27 Jun 1996
CPAG appealed against a refusal of a declaration that the respondent could use only the 1992 Act to recover overpayment of benefits where there had been neither misrepresentation nor non-disclosure. Held: The appeal succeeded, and the court made a declaration that: ‘where a benefit falling within section 71(11) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 … Continue reading Child Poverty Action Group, Regina (on the Application of) v Secretary Of State for Work and Pensions: CA 14 Oct 2009
When calculating interest on the loss of a primary family wage, the court was not to deduct benefits from such payments, and interest can be included in the total to be offset against his own liability to repay benefits. Citations: Times 18-May-1998 Statutes: Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 Jurisdiction: Scotland Personal Injury, Damages … Continue reading Spence v Wilson and Others (No 2): OHCS 18 May 1998
Regulations under which payments were made for funeral benefits were not susceptible to a challenge under the Race Relations Act, since they were an act of the Crown. Citations: Gazette 08-Feb-1995, Times 15-Nov-1994 Statutes: Race Relations Act 1976 20 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – Nessa v Chief Adjudication Officer CA 5-Feb-1998 … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Social Security Ex Parte Nessa: QBD 15 Nov 1994
The government made additional payments to pensioners in respect of the additional fuel costs incurred in winter. The complainant asserted that as a man aged 62, he would not receive this benefit where a woman of the same age would have done, and that this was discrimination arising from his sex. Held: The Directive provided … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Social Security Ex Parte Taylor: ECJ 16 Dec 1999
ECJ (Judgment) Freedom of movement for workers – Benefits designed to cover the risk of reliance on care Citations: [1998] ECR I-843, [1998] EUECJ C-160/96 Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: European Cited by: Applied – Commission v Parliament and Council (Free Movement of Persons) ECJ 3-May-2007 ECJ Action for annulment – Social security – Regulation (EEC) No … Continue reading Molenaar v Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse Baden-Wurttemberg: ECJ 5 Mar 1998
ECJ A benefit such as the child-raising allowance, which is automatically granted to persons fulfilling certain objective criteria, without any individual and discretionary assessment of personal needs, and which is intended to meet family expenses, falls within the scope ratione materiae of Community law as a family benefit within the meaning of Article 4(1)(h) of … Continue reading Martinez Sala v Freistaat Bayern: ECJ 12 May 1998
Where children of a broken marriage split their time equally between both parents, but only one parent received all the Child Benefit, the local authority was entitled to set allowance for size of house supported by housing benefit on the same basis. Citations: Times 21-Jan-1999, Gazette 27-Jan-1999, [1998] EWHC Admin 1141 Links: Bailii Statutes: Social … Continue reading Regina v Housing Benefit Review Board of Swale Borough Council ex parte Simon Stuart Marchant: Admn 17 Dec 1998
Pension entitlements for part time workers discriminated against were to be re-calculated to allow for wrongful treatment since 1976 Europa Reference for a preliminary ruling: Office of the Industrial Tribunal and the Fair Employment Tribunal, Belfast – United Kingdom. Equal pay for men and women – Article 119 of the EC Treaty – Protocol No … Continue reading Magorrian and Cunningham v Eastern Health and Social Services Board and Department of Health and Social Services: ECJ 11 Dec 1997
Europa So long as a directive has not been properly transposed into national law, individuals are unable to ascertain the full extent of their rights. That state of uncertainty for individuals subsists even after the Court has delivered a judgment finding that the Member State in question has not fulfilled its obligations under the directive … Continue reading Emmott v Minister for Social Welfare and Attorney General: ECJ 25 Jul 1991
The claimant was an EC national who had become resident here but was not seeking work, since she cared for her children. The Secretary of State said that since she was not seeking work, she was not entitled to remain and should make arrangements to leave the UK. Held: The letter asking a claimant to … Continue reading Chief Adjudication Officer v Wolke; Remelien v Secretary of State for Social Security: HL 13 Nov 1997
An uncontested consent order granting a man parental responsibility was sufficient adjudication that he was indeed the father of the child for the purposes of the Child Support Act despite the absence of any inquiry of fact by the court. Citations: Times 26-Nov-1998 Statutes: Child Support Act 1991 26(2) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Child Support … Continue reading Regina v Secretary of State for Social Security, ex parte West: CA 26 Nov 1998
In order to establish a right to industrial injuries benefit a claimant had to establish both that the injury arose out of the employment and also that it arose ‘in the course of’ the employment. Worker assaulted whilst off sick was unable to claim. Citations: Gazette 23-Sep-1998, Times 25-Aug-1998 Statutes: Social Security Contributions and Benefits … Continue reading Chief Adjudication Officer and Another v Rhodes: CA 25 Aug 1998
The applicant appealed refused an adjournment of his appeal against termination of his entitlement to National Insurance credits, to allow him to bring additional medical evidence. Held: The jurisdiction to hear an appeal lay in the regulations. Those allowed an appeal against a decision, but not against a determination. A decision was an outcome of … Continue reading Carpenter v Social Security Commissioner and Another: CA 15 Jan 2003
The duty of a parent with care to apply for child support applies if he or she is actually paid benefit, irrespective of any possibility that the benefit claim may fall to be challenged. The requirement is that benefits are actually not just lawfully paid. Citations: Gazette 24-Jun-1998, Times 10-Jun-1998 Statutes: Child Support Act 1991 … Continue reading Secretary of State for Social Security v Harmon; Same v Carter; Same v Cocks: CA 10 Jun 1998
Police’s Complete Immunity was Too Wide (Grand Chamber) A male teacher developed an obsession with a male pupil. He changed his name by deed poll to the pupil’s surname. He was required to teach at another school. The pupil’s family’s property was subjected to numerous acts of vandalism, which the police investigated and in respect … Continue reading Osman v The United Kingdom: ECHR 28 Oct 1998
Benefits which might be payable or recoverable in respect of damages should not be disregarded when the court considers what elements are to be allowed interest when calculating personal injury damages. Citations: Times 02-Dec-1998 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appealed to – Wisely v John Fulton Plumbers Ltd (Scotland) and Wadey v Surrey County Council … Continue reading Wisely v John Fulton (Plumbers) Ltd: IHCS 2 Dec 1998
An asylum seeker who had been awarded disability living allowance before the withdrawal of benefits to such persons should continue to receive payment until his allowance became subject to review under the standard section Citations: Times 27-Jul-1998 Statutes: Social Security Administration Act 1992 30; Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneuos Amendments Regulations 1996/30 Benefits Updated: … Continue reading Regina v Adjudication Officer Ex Parte B: QBD 27 Jul 1998
Court making personal injury damages award must identify each element of award against statutory criteria for recoupment of benefits. Citations: Times 28-Jan-1998 Statutes: Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 15(2) Personal Injury Updated: 09 April 2022; Ref: scu.83774
Where there had been an unconscionable delay in the prosecution of an action, the defendant could show sufficient to show prejudice where an intervening change in the benefits recoupment regulations very substantially increased the amounts payable. Citations: Times 11-Dec-1998, Gazette 13-Jan-1999 Statutes: Social Security (Recovery of Benefits) Act 1997 Personal Injury Updated: 09 April 2022; … Continue reading Mccarthy v Recticel Ltd: QBD 11 Dec 1998
An application for a social fund grant is to be assessed first according to need, and only then according to other relevant statutory factors. Citations: Times 20-Jan-1998 Statutes: Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 140(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Benefits Updated: 07 April 2022; Ref: scu.88064
Public Identification of Pedophiles by Police AB and CB had been released from prison after serving sentences for sexual assaults on children. They were thought still to be dangerous. They moved about the country to escape identification, and came to be staying on a campsite. The police sought to co-operate in the resettlement of the … Continue reading Regina v Chief Constable of North Wales Police and Others Ex Parte Thorpe and Another; Regina v Chief Constable for North Wales Police Area and others ex parte AB and CB: CA 18 Mar 1998
A party had applied to a judge for what in effect amounted to leave to appeal and had been refused. Held: Wherever power is given to a legal authority to grant or refuse leave to appeal, the decision of that authority is, from the very nature of the thing, final and conclusive and without appeal, … Continue reading In re Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890, Ex parte Stevenson: CA 1892
The defendant had been convicted, under regulations made under the Act, of smoking in a railway carriage. He sought to challenge the validity of the regulations themselves. He wanted to argue that the power to ban smoking on carriages did not . .
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The appellant suffered cerebral palsy. Following a review, he was awarded mobility allowance, and then later the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance for life. He applied for the care element also. The respondent refused the care allowance, but also then superseded and cancelled the mobility element. Held: There had to be a change in … Continue reading Wood v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 31 Jan 2003
Citations: [2005] EWCA Civ 989 Links: Bailii Statutes: Social Security Act 1998 12 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Benefits Updated: 10 July 2022; Ref: scu.229086
The claimant said that the medical member of the tribunal which had heard his disability claim was biased. The doctor was on a temporary contract and also worked for an agency which contracted directly the Benfits Agency. The court of session had considered tha a reasonable and well informed observer would not think there was … Continue reading Gillies v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: HL 26 Jan 2006
The appellant sought to recover overpayments of benefits and Social Fund Loans, after the respondent had had a Debt relief order. Held: The Secretary of State’s appeal failed. The ‘net entitlement principle’ argued for did not exist. The entitlement is a statutory one, and any liability to repay is separate and independent, being only a … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Payne and Another: SC 14 Dec 2011
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The appellant challenged stays of proceedings by the respondent magistrates court for abuse of process infringing the defendants’ human right to a fair trial. The magistrates had fund that being faced with dismissal of a summary case through delay, the appellant had increased the charges adding allegations of dishonesty which had not been put to … Continue reading Department for Work and Pensions v Courts: Admn 3 May 2006
ECHR Article 8 Expulsion Expulsion of long-term resident following series of criminal convictions: no violation Facts – The applicant was born in Estonia in 1978 and lived there on the basis of a temporary residence permit practically all his life until his expulsion in 2011. He did not appear to have ever formally requested Estonian … Continue reading Samsonnikov v Estonia (Summary): ECHR 3 Jul 2012
The trust was created in 1948, and provided gifts over, which had now failed. The court considered the construction of the term ‘stautory next of kin’. The possible beneficiaries claimed through being adopted, arguing that at the date of the last beneficary’s death, all impediments to inheritance by adopted children had been removed by statute. … Continue reading Re Erskine 1948 Trust: ChD 29 Mar 2012
The claimant had come from France to England, and worked as a teaching assistant. She set out on a course to train as a teacher but became pregnant, gave up the course, and eventually gave up work temporarily. Her claim to Income Support was refused on the basis that she was not a ‘worker’, and … Continue reading Prix v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: SC 31 Oct 2012
A complaint as to the privileging of civil over religious marriages in Turkey was found admissible.‘ the essential object of Article 8 is to protect the individual against arbitrary interference by the public authorities. There may in addition be positive obligations inherent in effective ‘respect’ for family life. In both contexts regard must be had … Continue reading Serife Yigit v Turkey: ECHR 20 Jan 2005
The defendant had published a set of guidelines for intelligence officers called upon to detain and interrogate suspects. The defendant said that the guidelines could only be tested against individual real life cases, and that the court should not answer hypothetical questions. The objection lay to reactions to anticipated torture and mistreatment by third party … Continue reading Equality and Human Rights Commission v Prime Minister and Others: Admn 3 Oct 2011
The claimant had applied to the Child Support Agncy for maintenance. They failed utterly to obtain payment, and she complained now that she was denied the opportunity by the 1991 Act to take court proceedings herself. Held: The denial of access to the courts under section 8 did not engage her civil rights. The Act … Continue reading Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Kehoe: CA 5 Mar 2004
The claimant alleged complicity by the defendant, (now former) Foreign Secretary, in his mistreatment by the US while held in Libya. He also alleged involvement in his unlawful abduction and removal to Libya, from which had had fled for political persecution. The defendants now appealed from rejection of the defendants’ claim to state immunity and … Continue reading Belhaj and Another v Straw and Others: SC 17 Jan 2017
FTTTx National Insurance contributions – gender dysphoria – determination of pensionable age – whether possible to interpret ‘woman’ as including person with gender dysphoria living as a woman – whether directly effective right under Directive 79/7 to cease paying contributions otherwise than by satisfying conditions for recognition under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 – Social … Continue reading M v Revenue and Customs: FTTTx 30 Jul 2010
Europa The benefits paid by an employer to a worker on the latter’s redundancy constitute a form of pay to which the worker is entitled in respect of his employment, which is paid to him upon termination of the employment relationship, which facilitates his adjustment to the new circumstances resulting from the loss of his … Continue reading Barber v Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Group: ECJ 17 May 1990
ECJ The principle that men and women should receive equal pay, which is laid down by article 119, is one of the foundations of the community. It may be relied on before the national courts. These courts have a duty to ensure the protection of the rights which that provision vests in individuals, in particular … Continue reading Defrenne v Sabena (No 2): ECJ 8 Apr 1976
The court was asked whether an obligation arose to pay child benefit for the children of a Portuguese worker resident here but no longer working for his children living in Portugal. Held: The benefit was payable. Citations: [2010] EWCA Civ 291 Links: Bailii Statutes: EC Council Regulation 1408/71 of 14 June 1971, Social Security, Contributions … Continue reading Revenue and Customs v Ruas: CA 23 Mar 2010
(Hong Kong) The applicant was dismissed as a golf caddie after nine years. The Club denied that he had ever been an employee. He was issued by the club with a number, a uniform and a locker. Caddying work was allocated to available caddies in strict rotation. They were not obliged to make themselves available … Continue reading Yuen v The Royal Hong Kong Golf Club: PC 28 Jul 1997
A school board employed staff to manage a residential school for vulnerable children. The staff committed sexual abuse of the children. The school denied vicarious liability for the acts of the teachers. Held: ‘Vicarious liability is legal responsibility imposed on an employer, although he is himself free from blame, for a tort committed by his … Continue reading Lister and Others v Hesley Hall Ltd: HL 3 May 2001
The council tenant had wished to appeal following a possession order made after her tenancy had been demoted. The court handed down a supplemental judgment to give effect to its earlier decision. The Court had been asked ‘whether article 8 of the . . Convention . . requires a court, which is being asked to … Continue reading Manchester City Council v Pinnock: SC 9 Feb 2011
The claimant journalist sought disclosure of papers acquired by the respondent in its conduct of enquiries into the charitable Mariam appeal. The Commission referred to an absolute exemption under section 32(2) of the 2000 Act, saying that the exemption continued until the papers were destroyed, or for 20 years under the 1958 Act. Held: The … Continue reading Kennedy v The Charity Commission: SC 26 Mar 2014
The claimant’s daughter had committed suicide whilst on home leave from a hospital where she had stayed as a voluntary patient with depression. Her admission had followed a suicide attempt. The hospital admitted negligence but denied that it owed her a positive obligation to protect life under Article 2. Held: The claimants’ appeal succeeded. The … Continue reading Rabone and Another v Pennine Care NHS Foundation: SC 8 Feb 2012
Twins were conjoined (Siamese). Medically, both could not survive, and one was dependent upon the vital organs of the other. Doctors applied for permission to separate the twins which would be followed by the inevitable death of one of them. The parents, devout Roman Catholics, resisted. Held: The parents’ views were subject to the overriding … Continue reading In Re A (Minors) (Conjoined Twins: Medical Treatment); aka In re A (Children) (Conjoined Twins: Surgical Separation): CA 22 Sep 2000
Procedures on Withdrawal of Life Support Treatment The patient had been severely injured in the Hillsborough disaster, and had come to be in a persistent vegetative state (PVS). The doctors sought permission to withdraw medical treatment. The Official Solicitor appealed against an order of the Court of Appeal permitting the action. Held: The appeal failed. … Continue reading Airedale NHS Trust v Bland: HL 4 Feb 1993
The applicant challenged the terms of a non-derogating control order. It was anticipated that unless prevented, he would fight against UK forces in Iraq. Held: The section allowed the Secretary of State to impose any necessary conditions, but subject to a system of supervision by the courts. The parties now disputed whether the Act gave … Continue reading MB, Re, Secretary of State for the Home Department v MB: Admn 12 Apr 2006
Mrs. Nessa arrived at Heathrow aged 55 having lived all her life in Bangladesh. Her husband, Mr. Mobarak Ali, had lived in the United Kingdom from 1962 until he died in 1975 and when she arrived here, Mrs. Nessa had a right of abode. She hoped to live with her husband’s brother. Her three children, … Continue reading Nessa v Chief Adjudication Officer: HL 3 Nov 1999
The appellants were magazines and journalists who published, after committal proceedings, the name of a witness, a member of the security services, who had been referred to as Colonel B during the hearing. An order had been made for his name not to be disclosed during the hearing, but the court had had no power … Continue reading Attorney-General v Leveller Magazine Ltd: HL 1 Feb 1979
Presumption in Favour of Open Proceedings There had been an unauthorised dissemination by the petitioner to third parties of the official shorthand writer’s notes of a nullity suit which had been heard in camera. An application was made for a committal for contempt. Held: The House equated the contempt to a breach of an injunction … Continue reading Scott v Scott: HL 5 May 1913
ECJ Action for annulment – Social security – Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 – Articles 4(2a) and 10a – Annex IIa – Regulation (EC) No 647/2005 – Special non-contributory benefits Citations: [2007] EUECJ C-299/05, [2007] ECR I-8695 Links: Bailii Statutes: Regulation (EC) No 647/2005 Jurisdiction: European Citing: Applied – Molenaar v Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse Baden-Wurttemberg ECJ 5-Mar-1998 … Continue reading Commission v Parliament and Council (Free Movement of Persons): ECJ 3 May 2007
The trial judge had refused an order requested at a preparatory hearing by the defence for the disclosure of documents held by the prosecutor. The House was now asked whether a right of appeal existed against such a refusal. Held: The practice at preparatory hearings has been the subject of dispute. Lord Nichols said: ‘the … Continue reading H, Regina v (Interlocutory application: Disclosure): HL 28 Feb 2007
The council had dismissed all workers within a group of employees, and invited them to re-apply for their jobs. The council now appealed a protective award made on the basis that there had been inadequate consultation with the union. Held: The court refused permission to raise a new point of law not argued below as … Continue reading Unison v Leicestershire County Council: CA 29 Jun 2006
The claimant had dual Irish and US nationality. He therefore also was a citizen of the EU. He complained that the British rules against payment of job seekers’ allowance were discriminatory. The matter had already been to the ECJ. Held: The residence test as applied was not in contravention of EU law. ‘[T]he proper interpretation … Continue reading Collins v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 4 Apr 2006
The doctor had been suspended on full pay whilst allegations against him were investigated. He claimed that the suspension infringed his human rights and that his licence to practice was a possession. Held: At the disciplinary proceedings: ‘there were serious flaws at the hearing of 16 March which in my judgment rendered it unfair and … Continue reading Malik, Regina (on the Application of) v Waltham Forest PCT and Secretary of State for Health: Admn 17 Mar 2006
The claimants were dependants of Iraqi nationals killed in Iraq. Held: The Military Police were operating when Britain was an occupying power. The question in each case was whether the Human Rights Act applied to the acts of the defendant. The question amounted to whether the officers acted under State Agent Authority within the convention … Continue reading Regina (on the Application of Mazin Mumaa Galteh Al-Skeini and Others) v The Secretary of State for Defence: CA 21 Dec 2005
Europa The right to join an occupational pension scheme, the rules of which were not laid down directly by law but were the result of negotiation between both sides of the industry concerned and all that the public authorities did was, at the request of such employers’ and trade union organizations as were considered to … Continue reading Fisscher v Voorhuis Hengelo and Stichting Bedrijfspensioenfonds voor de Detailhandel: ECJ 28 Sep 1994
Each defendant appealed against convictions associated variously with the cultivation or possession of cannabis resin. They sought to plead medical necessity. There had been medical recommendations to move cannabis to the list of drugs which might be prescribed by a doctor, but this had been rejected. Held: The appeals failed. There was no over-arching principle … Continue reading Quayle and others v Regina, Attorney General’s Reference (No. 2 of 2004): CACD 27 May 2005
The authority had received too much by way of housing benefit subsidy in 1991 and 1992, having failed to refer rents to rent officers. It now challenged the decision of the respondent to recover the overpayment by deductions from future payments. Held: The respondent could recover the overpayment in the way proposed. The later policy … Continue reading London Borough of Lambeth, Regina (on the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 20 Apr 2005
The Claimants were employed to deliver food to aircraft at airports, loading and unloading food from the aircraft. Between loadings, they were on down time – not physically working, but required to remain in radio contact with their employers, and at their disposal. The employers argued that since the employees would get 20 minutes’ rest … Continue reading Gallagher and others v Alpha Catering Services Ltd: CA 8 Nov 2004
The claimant was a cyclist. He passed along inside a line of traffic, and collided with a lorry turning left into a petrol station ahead of him, suffering serious injuries. He appealed against a finding that the lorry driver had signalled and that he had not been watching where he was going. Held: The claimant … Continue reading Clenshaw v Tanner and others: CA 27 Nov 2002
The applicant sought leave to appeal against a decision of the Competition Commission Appeals Tribunal. Held: Since the decision of the tribunal did not involve questions of law, it fell exactly within the Cooke case, and the court should be reluctant to review a tribunal practicing as expert in an area for which it had … Continue reading Napp Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd v Director General of Fair Trading: CA 8 May 2002
The claimant sought increased maternity pay. Before beginning her maternity leave she had been awarded a pay increase, but it was not backdated so as to affect the period upon which the calculation of her average pay was based. The court made a detailed comparison of the regimes for protection under the Employment Rights Act … Continue reading Alabaster v Barclays Bank Plc and Another: CA 3 May 2005
The applicant had for many years before 1992 had a protected tenancy of a publicly-owned flat in Zadar. Under Croatian law a specially-protected tenancy might be terminated if the tenant ceased to occupy the flat for a continuous period of six months, but not if the tenant’s failure was attributable to medical treatment, military service … Continue reading Blecic v Croatia: ECHR 29 Jul 2004
EAT Issue whether Employment Tribunal asked itself the right question and/or was perverse in failing to find that the principal reason for the Council’s changed arrangements was to thwart TUPE and hence that the ECM point should have been injected into the (otherwise correctly applied) Spijkers test. Appeal dismissed. Judges: The Honourable Mr Justice Burton … Continue reading Astle and others v Cheshire County Council and Omnisure Property Management Ltd: EAT 20 May 2004
The claimant council sought re-imbursement from the Secretary of the excess housing benefit payments it had made to claimants. The system expected the Council to have made referrals of high rents to rent officers. The respondent had decided that it had been a failure to make such referrals had led to the overpayments, and that … Continue reading Regina on the Application of Isle of Anglesey County Council v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: Admn 30 Oct 2003
The claimant was a mental patient under compulsory detention, and complained that he had been subjected to periods of seclusion. Held: The appeal succeeded. The hospital had failed to follow the appropriate Code of Practice. The Code was not obligatory, but following it would generally ensure that a patient’s rights were not infringed. It recognised … Continue reading Munjaz v Mersey Care National Health Service Trust And the Secretary of State for Health, the National Association for Mental Health (Mind) Respondent interested;: CA 16 Jul 2003
The claimant Reynolds challenged the differential treatment by age of jobseeker’s allowance. Carson complained that as a foreign resident pensioner, her benefits had not been uprated. The questions in each case were whether the benefit affected a ‘possession’ within the Convention or the discrimination was arbitrary so as to breach the applicants human rights. Held: … Continue reading Carson and Reynolds v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: CA 17 Jun 2003
Claim for damages for false imprisonment brought in judicial review proceedings challenging the legality of a curfew imposed upon the claimant, purportedly under paragraph 2(5) of Schedule 3 to the Immigration Act 1971. Held: The Court of Appeal in Austin and in Walker were right to say that there could be imprisonment at common law … Continue reading Jalloh, Regina (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department: SC 12 Feb 2020
The applicant complained of ill-treatment while he was in the care of a local authority and living with foster parents. He sought access to his case records held by the local authority but his request was denied. Held: The refusal to allow him access to his records involved a breach of his rights under Article … Continue reading Gaskin v The United Kingdom: ECHR 7 Jul 1989
The claimants sought a declaration that part of the Regulations were invalid, and an infringement of their human rights. The Regulations sought to exempt church schools from an obligation not to discriminate against homosexual teachers. Held: The Regulation was within the scope of the Directive. Though a member state had some freedom in implementing a … Continue reading Regina (Amicus etc) v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: Admn 26 Apr 2004
A plaintiff in a personal injury action, was entitled to claim, and be paid, interest on his award for compensation for lost earnings, even though some part of it was to be paid direct to the Department of Social Security by way of recovery of benefits. The scheme for recovery of benefits paid deliberately stayed … Continue reading Wisely v John Fulton Plumbers Ltd (Scotland) and Wadey v Surrey County Council: HL 6 Apr 2000
This was an appeal from orders of certiorari quashing the decisions of three local authorities refusing to provide accommodation for the respondents, four asylum seekers, whose applications for asylum were presently being considered by the Secretary of State. Held: Appeal dismissed. Asylum seekers are not entitled merely because they lack money and accommodation to claim … Continue reading Regina v Westminster City Council ex parte A, London Borough of Lambeth ex parte X and similar: CA 17 Feb 1997
The Court was asked whether a district judge qualifies as a ‘worker’ for the purpose of the protection given to whistle-blowers under Part IVA of the 1996 Act, and if not then was the absence of protection an infringement of her human rights. Held: As an office holder, she was neither employee nor worker, and … Continue reading Gilham v Ministry of Justice: SC 16 Oct 2019
The claimant appealed against refusal of his employer’s pension scheme trustees to include as a recipient of any death benefit his male civil partner. Held: The appeal succeeded. The salary paid to Mr Walker throughout his working life was precisely the same as that which would have been paid to a heterosexual man. There was … Continue reading Walker v Innospec Ltd and Others: SC 12 Jul 2017
Both applicants, Islam and Shah, citizens of Pakistan, but otherwise unconnected with each other, had suffered violence in Pakistan after being falsely accused them of adultery. Both applicants arrived in the UK and were granted leave to enter as visitors for six months. Both applicants subsequently applied for asylum on the ground that having been … Continue reading Regina v Immigration Appeal Tribunal and Another ex parte Shah: HL 25 Mar 1999
The Social Security Commissioners have the jurisdiction and power to decide if a Regulation is ultra vires the powers under which it purports to have been made.Lord Bridge said of the Social Security Commissioners: ‘My conclusion is that the commissioners have undoubted jurisdiction to determine any challenge to the vires of a provision in regulations … Continue reading Chief Adjudication Officer and Another v Foster: HL 7 Apr 1993
K, aged 16, had left home to join what was said to be a religious sect. His whereabouts were unknown. He had been made a ward of court and the Official Solicitor was appointed to represent his interests. He had sent messages to say that he was well and did not wish to return. The … Continue reading Kelly (A Minor) v British Broadcasting Corporation: FD 25 Jul 2000
A party in a separated couple where primary residence was with the other party, had staying contact, but the child benefit remained unapportioned. That party was not able to claim housing benefit which would reflect his need for larger accommodation to facilitate that staying contact. The decision was an administrative exercise as to whether the … Continue reading Regina v Housing Benefit Review Board of Swale Borough Council ex parte Simon Stuart Marchant: CA 17 Nov 1999
Administrative Discretion to be Used Reasonably The applicant challenged the manner of decision making as to the conditions which had been attached to its licence to open the cinema on Sundays. It had not been allowed to admit children under 15 years of age. The statute provided no appeal procedure, and the applicant sought a … Continue reading Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation: CA 10 Nov 1947
US Treasury social security orders were stolen in the USA, and brought to London, where they were endorsed at a bank for payment in the USA. Held: On those facts the ‘acceptance’ of the bills could only have taken place in the USA, and therefore there was no jurisdiction to try charges of execution of … Continue reading Regina v Nanayakkara: CACD 1987
Doctors working in primary health care teams are subject to the Working Time Directive. They are not to be assimilated as public service workers alongside emergency services. All time on call was working time and overtime if present at a health centre, but if merely contactable then the rules applied to the time actually spent. … Continue reading Sindicato de Medicos de Asistancia Publica (SIMAP) v Colsilieria de Sanidad y Consumo de la Generalidad Valenciana: ECJ 3 Oct 2000
The Liechtenstein constitutional court had held that the unequal pension treatment afforded to married and unmarried couples was unconstitutional. The constitutional court did not set aside the existing legislation, given the practical difficulties involved and given also that a comprehensive legal reform guaranteeing gender equality in social security law was in course of preparation. New … Continue reading Walden v Liechtenstein: ECHR 16 Mar 2000
Stolen travellers’ cheques were cashed in France and then presented through normal banking channels to a bank in England. The first and main ground of appeal was that no offence had been thereby committed within the jurisdiction of the Crown Court, because the ‘execution’ of the valuable security, by its ‘acceptance’, had taken place in … Continue reading Regina v Beck: CACD 1984
There is a strong presumption that Parliament will not legislate to prevent individuals affected by legal measures promulgated by executive public bodies having a fair opportunity to challenge these measures and to vindicate their rights in court proceedings doing so. Viscount Simonds said: ‘It is a principle not by any means to be whittled down … Continue reading Pyx Granite Ltd v Ministry of Housing and Local Government: HL 1959
An allegation of contempt was made in proceedings related to the publication by a newspaper of extracts from a report by a social worker and a report by the Official Solicitor, both prepared after the commencement and for the purpose of the wardship proceedings. Held: What was published was ‘information relating to [the] proceedings’ within … Continue reading In re F (otherwise A ) (A Minor) (Publication of Information): CA 1977
Two women parties used funds generated by a joint business venture to buy a house in which they lived together. It was vested in the sole name of the plaintiff but on the understanding that they were joint beneficial owners. The purpose of the arrangement was so that false benefit claims could be made to … Continue reading Tinsley v Milligan: HL 28 Jun 1993
The respondent appealed against a finding that the provision which made a loan agreement completely invalid for lack of compliance with the 1974 Act was itself invalid under the Human Rights Act since it deprived the respondent lender of its property rights. It was also argued that it was not possible to make a declaration … Continue reading Wilson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Wilson v First County Trust Ltd (No 2): HL 10 Jul 2003
The claimant was detained in a secure Mental Hospital. He complained at the seclusions policy applied by the hospital, saying that it departed from the Guidance issued for such policies by the Secretary of State under the Act. Held: The House allowed the Hospital’s appeal. The policy was lawful. Seclusion was to be seen as … Continue reading Regina v Ashworth Hospital Authority (Now Mersey Care National Health Service Trust) ex parte Munjaz: HL 13 Oct 2005
