GURKHA PENSIONS

Early day motion 21, tabled 18 November 2009 by Bob Spink (Independent). Signed by 44 members.

That this Housewelcomes the residency rights given to former<span> Gurkha soldiers; noteswith concern that all Gurkhaveterans do not receive the same monthly payment as their UK counterparts; further notes that over 12,000 Gurkha veterans who retired prior to 1997 and would qualify for a pension if they had been UK soldiers presently receive between as little as one sixth or one eighth of that of the UK soldiers they served alongside and are thus discriminated against;acknowledges that the British Gurkha Welfare Society is asking for Gurkhas to be treated as equals by the Government byensuring that all Gurkhas, regardless of when they served, receive from this point onwards a fair pension, equal to fellowBritish Army soldiers with the same service; recognises thatthe inferior Gurkha pension is leading many elderly, infirm and increasingly vulnerable Gurkha veterans to believe that UK residency is the only option to receive fair treatment by the UK andthat if the pressure to settle in the UK were reduced, considerable savings would be made and less pressure would be placed on the UK welfare system; and thereforecalls onthe Government to consider giving all Gurkhas an equal and fair pension in the future.</span>

Signatures by party: Labour 17, Liberal Democrat 13, Independent 5, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1, UUP 1.