To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners living in each country overseas were entitled to receive the winter fuel payment in the most recent period for which figures are available. (181765)

European Community law means that some benefits acquired in one member state must be paid to people when they move to another country within the European economic area. Winter fuel payments are only paid to former UK residents living in the European economic area if they qualified for a payment before leaving the UK. The number of winter fuel payments made to former UK residents living in the EEA in winter 2006-07 is in the following table.