Reading West MP Martin Salter, who is also chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkha Rights, today joined actress Joanna Lumley and Gurkhas from across the country including Reading, in a demonstration outside the High Court where solicitors Howe and Co. are applying for a judicial order to force a decision from the Government on a new settlement policy for ex-Gurkha soldiers and their dependents.

In September last year Howe and Co. a historic judgement which declared illegal the existing policy of only granting settlement rights to Gurkha soldiers who had retired after 1997. The Government were due to produce a new policy by 31^st December 2008.

Mr Salter said:-

“I welcome this court action to crank up the pressure on the Ministry of Defence to withdraw their opposition to granting settlement rights to Gurkha soldiers and their dependents. The figures bandied around by the MoD are frankly insulting and imply that Gurkhas could be a net drain on the taxpayer when in fact they are fantastically hard-working individuals who would make a huge contribution to our economy. We owe a historic debt of honour to these brave fighting men and it is high time that this was delivered.”

Reading solicitor for the Gurkhas, Tim Heaver said:-

“Lodging the application today went extremely well. We have a hearing on Wednesday 25^th March in front of the original trial judge, Mr Justice Blake. We are very optimistic.”

Laxmi Sharma from the United British Gurkha Ex-Servicemen’s Association in Reading added:-

“It’s another great day fort the Gurkhas. We wouldn’t be here without the support of the MPs, foremost of which has been Martin Salter, and we are very grateful to him and Joanna Lumley for their overwhelming support.”