Britain is still paying child benefit for 34,000 children who live elsewhere in the European Union, despite every major political party wanting to stop the handouts. David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have repeatedly called for end to money being sent abroad by EU migrants working in the UK who leave their children in their home country, two-thirds of which are in Poland. But with any deal on scrapping the rules which force Britain to export benefits far from certain, it will continue to cost taxpayers up to £30million every year until an agreement can be reached with all of the 27 other EU member states.
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Child benefit paid to 20,660 families with 34,199 children outside the UK
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Two thirds of payments are sent to Poland, for 22,456 children
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The enforcement of EU rules costing the British taxpayer £30million-a-year
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David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg all say payments should end
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But agreement is needed with all of the 27 other EU member states
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Tories promise renegotiation before a referendum by the end of 2017
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It means action to tackle benefits being exported could be years off
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel due in London tomorrow for talks
Amazingly, two-thirds of all claims are made for children in @placeholder.