The powerful cross-party Home Affairs Select Committee has this morning challenged the Government’s announcement last week to restrict settlement rights to former Gurkha soldiers who retired prior to 1997 to those who served twenty years or more. In a strongly worded Early Day Motion tabled today by members of the Committee of all parties they point out that ordinary soldiers are denied the opportunity “to serve for the twenty year minimum period afforded to those of the rank of Warrant Officer and above”. The Committee goes on to point out that there is now the appalling prospect of former Falklands veterans currently in Britain awaiting the outcome of their appeals facing deportation as they would not qualify under the new criteria.

The Committee announced plans to question Ministers from the Home Office and Ministry of Defence next week in order that it can both examine the consequences of the decision and ascertain how many former Gurkhas would qualify for settlement. The Committee also wishes to establish how many the approximately 1,500 Gurkhas - including Falklands veterans - currently awaiting the outcome of their appeals, would face deportation from the UK under the new guidelines.

Committee chairman Keith Vaz said:-

“The Committee was tremendously impressed by the merits of the Gurkha argument and the dignity with which they have attempted to redress a great injustice. It is indisputable that the UK owes a historic debt of gratitude to the Gurkhas for their brave, loyal, and distinguished service in defence of this country.

He added:-

“We are extremely disappointed, therefore, that the Government has stalled once again on this issue and we urge it to reconsider and do the honourable thing, late rather than never.”

Reading West MP Martin Salter, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, wrote last night (Monday 27^th April) to all Labour MPs urging them to oppose the decision in tomorrow’s (Wednesday 29^th April) Opposition Day debate.

Martin Salter, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkhas’ Rights said:-

“This completely disgraceful decision does a great disservice to the brave Gurkha soldiers who have willingly risked their lives for this who are being told, in effect, that as far as the Government is concerned, they are worth less than other foreign nationals who only have to serve four years before they can apply for settlement rights in the UK. I am calling on Members from all parties to show their support for the Gurkhas in tomorrow’s debate and demonstrate to the Government that this is an issue that will not go away.”

He added:-

“I am delighted that my colleagues on the Home Affairs Committee are going to take up this issue and I hope that when all the facts emerge, this Government - which, in spite of this most recent decision - has been the only Government to do anything for the Gurkhas, will honour these brave veterans in the manner they deserve. I cannot believe that Government Ministers have thought through the appalling consequences of rules which could see Gurkha Falkland veterans deported from the UK. We should be honouring our veterans not rejecting them.”

Tim Heaver, a solicitor acting on behalf of the Gurkha community said:-

“The reputation of the Gurkhas comes not just from those few brave men who had the opportunity to serve for many years and attain high rank. It comes in great part from the ordinary, humble and loyal Gurkhas who simply gave their service, despite receiving poor salaries, in conditions often of great hardship and difficulties in the jungles of Malaya and in the Falkland Islands. These men often have no pension - half of all Gurkhas don’t. They are the ones betrayed by the latest policy. Britain’s claims to moral superiority now are looking very fragile. We are relying now on MPs to challenge the Government’s appalling decision on the floor of the House of Commons.”

Note to Editors:         

Full text of the EDM 1362, plus eight original signatories (all members of the HomeAffairs Select Committee)

SETTLEMENT FOR FORMER GURKHA SOLDIERS AND THE HOME AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE (EDM 1362)

This House believes that the new guidelines announced by the Home Office for the settlement of former Gurkha soldiers are unnecessarily restrictive, morally wrong and offensive to those dedicated Gurkha soldiers who are denied the opportunity to serve for the twenty year minimum period afforded to those of the rank of Warrant Officer and above; supports the decision of the Home Affairs Select Committee to call Ministers from the Home Office and Ministry of Defence to examine the consequences of this decision and to ascertain how many former Gurkhas would qualify for settlement and how many of the approximately 1,500 Gurkhas, including Falklands veterans, currently awaiting the outcome of their appeals would face deportation under the new guidelines; calls upon the Government to withdraw these guidelines and bring forward a new and more equitable ruling.

1.         Martin Salter (Lab)

2.         Bob Russell (LibDem)

3.         Patrick Mercer (Con)

4.         Keith Vaz (Lab, Chairman)

5.         Gwyn Prosser (Lab)

6.         Janet Dean (Lab)

7.         Tom Brake (LibDem)

8.         Karen Buck (Lab)