Gurkha Pensions

EDM number 1726 in 2008-09, proposed by George Howarth on 23/06/2009.
Categorised under the topics of Armed forces welfare, Pensions and Veterans.

That this House welcomes the residency rights given to former Gurkha soldiers; notes that the British public united unanimously behind the Gurkhas in their campaign for equality of treatment with fellow British soldiers; further notes with concern that one area of inequality still remains relating to Gurkhas who have protected the interests of the United Kingdom by serving prior to 1997, but still do not receive a fair pension equal to their fellow British Army soldiers with the same service; recognises that Gurkhas who retired from the Army prior to 1997 receive a pension settlement between as little as 1/6th or 1/8th of that of the UK soldiers they served alongside; acknowledges that the British Gurkha Welfare Society is not demanding the backdating of any pension payments, nor any further retrospective grants such as receiving a terminal gratuity payment equal to that which British counterparts have received; further acknowledges that they are simply asking for Gurkhas to be treated as equals by the British Government by ensuring that all Gurkhas, regardless of when they served, receive from this point onwards a fair pension, equal to fellow British Army soldiers with the same service; and calls on the Government to consider giving all Gurkhas an equal and fair pension in the future.

This motion has been signed by a total of 100 MPs.