Child Benefit

John Battle
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child benefit applications are being processed for (a) UK nationals, (b) non-UK EEA nationals, (c) A8 EEA nationals, (d) A2 EEA nationals and (e) non-European nationals.

Mr. Timms
All claims for child benefit are checked to establish whether further inquiries are required before being entered into the child benefit computer system.

Where no further inquiries are required, claims are then processed.

In some cases further inquiries are necessary before entitlement is decided.

For non-European nationals when a claimant is subject to immigration control, this can involve inquiries being made with the claimant and the Home Office to determine the claimant’s status.

For all other claimants, when European Community regulations are involved, this can involve inquiries being made with the customer and other European economic area member states.