To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many nationals of each A8 country were receiving child benefit for a child or children living in another EEA member state at the end of June 2008; and in respect of how many such children child benefit was being paid on that date.

Around 7.5 million families are currently claiming child benefit for around 13 million children. Out of that total, at the end of June 2008, around 0.3 per cent. (26,703) were ongoing child benefit awards to A8 nationals recorded as receiving child benefit for 44,008 children living in another EEA member state. These awards are made by virtue of EC social security co-ordinating regulations which the UK has administered since it joined the European Economic Community in 1973.

The estimated breakdown by nationality is as follows.