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Child Benefit

Volume 497: debated on Wednesday 14 October 2009

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much child benefit was paid to children living in each other EU country in the latest period for which figures are available. (292011)

According to the latest statistics there are 30,068 child benefit awards in payment in respect of 50,586 children resident in other member states. A geographical breakdown of these awards by member state can be found in the following table.

Country

Number of awards at 8 October 2009

Number of children included in awards

Austria

29

52

Belgium

153

297

Bulgaria

45

70

Cyprus

51

82

Czech Republic

197

340

Denmark

13

24

Estonia

17

30

Finland

16

29

France

1,256

2,346

Germany

311

529

Greece

51

81

Hungary

96

172

Iceland

2

4

Italy

175

300

Latvia

259

346

Lithuania

747

1,093

Luxembourg

14

26

Malta

17

26

Norway

45

92

Poland

22,858

37,941

Portugal

222

329

Republic of Ireland

883

1,818

Romania

36

53

Slovakia

1,483

2,573

Slovenia

5

7

Spain

741

1,230

Sweden

57

107

Switzerland

104

216

The Netherlands

185

373

Totals

30,068

50,586

The value of the benefit paid is only available at disproportionate costs because under the EC social security co-ordinating regulations (EC Regulations 1408/71 and 574/72) not all awards of child benefit in respect of children living in other member states are made at the full UK rate.