DATE: 06 Sep 2005
Strasbourg Court gives decision on social security benefits in Stec and others v UK.
The European Court of Human Rights (Grand Chamber) has today delivered an important decision on the scope of Article 1 of the 1st Protocol, by ruling that non-contributory social security benefits were within the ambit of that article in the same way as contributory benefits. Although technically only a ruling on admissibility at this stage, it appears to be intended to bring to an end a long period of uncertainty and debate, and has considerable implications for discrimination claims in social security in all Convention States.
Richard Drabble QC appeared for the claimants
