ONE OF Reading’s two MPs has called on the government to give fair treatment to retired Gurkha soldiers over their pensions.
Last week, Matt Rodda asked defence minister Dr Anndrew Murrison for details during a session in the House of Commons. He was told that discussions are ongoing.
Since then, a meeting was held between the British and Nepalese governments, prompting Mr Rodda to send a letter to Dr Murrison requesting a fresh update.
In it, he shared his concerns of his constituents were were British Gurkha soldiers before their retirement in 1997.
“We have a significant Gurkha and Nepalese community living in the Reading area and many residents are former soldiers who served in the British Army,” he wrote.
“I believe we owe a debt of honour to our Gurkha soldiers, and I hope that the Government will be able to agree to a fair solution to the pensions issue despite the complexity of this issue.”
He said these soldiers live on “very modest sums” and, as a result, their families “suffer real hardship”.
“The financial pressure on this group of veterans and their families is now even greater due to the current cost of living crisis and I hope you will take this and the onset of the Winter into account as you try to address this long-standing and complicated problem,” he continued.
The Tri-Partite Agreement of 1947 continues to provide the basis for the employment of the Brigade of Gurkhas within the British Army, and Reading Today understands that the Ministry of Defence is proud of the long and unique partnership between the UK and Nepal, and there is a desire to deepen the country’s strategic partnership with Nepal for shared security.
Under current rules, Gurkhas who served in the forces between 1948 and 2007 were members of the 1948 Gurkhas Pension scheme, set up for those returning the Nepal.
The MoD says that the majority of Gurkhas on this scheme receive more value from their pension over their lifetime than other Armed Forces personnel in the AFPS.
This is because under the 1948 scheme, Gurkhas qualified for an immediate pension after 15 years’ service and many were in their 30s when this happened.
The ministry says it has been investing in medical support for Gurkhas at a rate of £2.5m a year for 10 years starting in 2019, and the legal basis for the 1948 pension scheme was upheld by three judicial reviews since 2003, one which was a case that went to the European Court of Human Rights.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Reading Today: “The UK Government takes its responsibilities to our veterans very seriously and we warmly welcome the highly constructive engagement we have had through the UK/Nepali Bilateral Committee and remain committed to supporting them and their families during and post service.”
