R (C) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Subject Matter

HUMAN RIGHTS — Respect for private life — Interference with — Department for Work and Pensions client computer database — Transgender claimant’s computer records containing gender history information — Claimant suffering distress dealing face to face with officials having access to gender history information — Department’s policies on retention of such information having legitimate objectives of fraud reduction and pension calculation — Whether interference with claimant’s right to private life proportionate — Whether policies indirectly discriminating unlawfully against transgender persons — Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), s 6, Sch 1, Pt I, art 8 — Equality Act 2010 (c 15), s 19

[2016] EWCA Civ 47; [2016] PTSR 1344; [2016] WLR (D) 68, CA

HUMAN RIGHTS — Respect for private life — Interference with — Department for Work and Pensions client computer database — Transgender claimant’s computer record containing gender history information — Claimant suffering distress dealing face to face with officials having access to gender history information — Department’s policies on retention of such information having legitimate objectives of fraud reduction and pension calculation — Whether policies giving proper effect to statutory requirement that “person’s gender becomes for all purposes the acquired gender” — Whether interference with claimant’s Convention right to private life proportionate — Whether policies directly or indirectly discriminatory of transgender persons — Whether policies creating harassing environment — Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), Sch 1, Pt I, arts 8, 14 — Gender Recognition Act 2004 (c 7), ss 9, 22 — Equality Act 2010 (c 15), ss 13, 19, 26

[2017] UKSC 72; [2017] 1 WLR 4127; [2017] PTSR 1476; [2018] 2 All ER 391; [2017] WLR (D) 730; Case details, SC(E)

Appellate History