Commemorates the service and sacrifice of Gurkha veterans, criticising the treatment of Commonwealth and Gurkha veterans in regard to their pensions. Emphasises the need for the UK Government to work with the new Prime Minister of Nepal to resolve long-standing issues affecting these veterans.

Commemorates the bravery and service of Gurkha veterans, highlighting personal experiences. Stresses the importance of ensuring that all veterans receive the dignity, pension equality, and welfare support they earned on the battlefield.

My constituency of Rochester and Strood has a long and proud history with the Gurkha community, housing over 100 former military personnel who served this country. The pensions for veterans whose service ended before July 1997 are inadequate to sustain a decent standard of living in the UK. Sumendra Rai noted that this division institutionalises inequality among soldiers. While it's challenging to make retrospective changes to pension arrangements, I urge the Minister to consider introducing a fund to support these veterans experiencing hardship.

The Gurkhas are tough, brave and humble soldiers who have served this country for over 200 years. The tripartite agreement of 1947 is now outdated as it does not reflect the financial reality of living in Britain today. If injustices faced by these veterans are not addressed, the Nepalese Government may halt Gurkha recruitment. It is crucial to ensure that men who served our country receive the same pension settlement regardless of the date their service concluded.

The Gurkhas in Doncaster are valued members of the community, but many feel that their pension provision has not been fairly applied. A personal example is a veteran who served 28 and a half years yet only received credit for 16 years due to excluded service. I urge continued dialogue with Government to try to remedy what feels like an injustice. The Minister should consider working with the Treasury and DWP to ensure Gurkhas are entitled to full state pension matching their level of service.

The hon. Member for Tewkesbury prompted me to reflect on the support for Gurkhas in 2009 when there was a majority of 21 votes for their settlement rights, despite accusations of rebellion by Labour MPs at that time. The discrimination against Gurkha pensioners continues today; they face poverty and homelessness due to inadequate service recognition. A comprehensive strategy should be developed to address these issues, including fair pensions and support in housing and health.

We owe a debt of honour to the Gurkhas for their 200 years of service. Their contributions are exemplified by individuals like Chandra Budhathoki, Ram Galami and Gyanraj Rai. Pre-1997 pensioners struggle with low incomes and poor-quality housing due to the high cost of living. Pensions as low as £300 a month barely cover rent in areas like Reading. Direct flights from Britain to Nepal could ease travel for Gurkha veterans.

I am privileged to have seen the service and sacrifice of the Gurkhas to the British Army at first hand during my visit to Brunei last year. The Headquarters Brigade of Gurkhas is also located at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, which I represent, though it falls just outside my constituency. In fact, Nepalese is the second most commonly spoken language in our borough after English. Every time I meet a Gurkha or visit our armed forces and see how integral the Gurkhas are to our global reputation and capabilities, I am reminded of the words inscribed on the Gurkha soldier memorial, which reads: “Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you.” Today is an important opportunity to recognise all that Gurkha veterans have done for this country. I recently put my name to a letter to the Veterans Minister from my hon. Friend Alex Baker, welcoming the election of a new Government in Nepal and recognising the importance of continued constructive engagement on Gurkha welfare with Nepal. One area I would like to highlight is the recruitment of women into the Gurkhas.

I am incredibly fortunate and proud to represent a large Gurkha population in Nuneaton, where their contribution is valued and woven into the fabric of our town. The British Gurkha Veterans Association provides support through English language classes and health checks. Op Valour offers an opportunity to build on this work. I urge the Government to engage positively with talks to end historical injustices against the Gurkha population. Much more needs to be done to ensure that those who have served, especially pre-1997 veterans injured in service, have access to healthcare and financial support. Veterans in my community continue to serve after their duties are done by contributing to local growth on high streets, enhancing local culture through Nepalese food, festivals and charity events.

The Gurkhas in my constituency have been a model of dedication and contribution. Many members of the community are veterans who own businesses that contribute to local growth on high streets, enhance our culture through Nepalese food, festivals, and organise charity events. The Gurkhas’ dedication to service is recognised by all Members across this House. I wrote to my hon. Friend the Minister for Veterans and People to ask what measures would be taken to explore the welfare needs and long-standing pension issues of Gurkha veterans. In her response, the Minister outlined the Government’s commitment to explore measures to address the welfare needs of Gurkha veterans in both the UK and Nepal.

She discusses the unfair treatment of Gurkha veterans who have served Britain loyally for over two centuries. She mentions that around 25,000 Gurkha vets receive lower pensions than their British counterparts despite doing the same job and facing similar dangers. Monica Harding highlights that these disparities are life-defining and affect many Gurkhas living in poverty in the UK. She calls for a review of the pension arrangements to ensure parity with British veterans.

I congratulate the hon. and gallant Member for Tewkesbury on securing this important debate about Gurkhas and their welfare, emphasising the service of Gurkhas to Britain over 200 years. He highlighted contributions from various MPs and recalled a significant event where Back-Bench rebels influenced policy changes, comparing it to the meaningful vote three incident in 2019. Francois acknowledged the ongoing recruitment success despite historical disputes over welfare issues. The debate covered the 1947 tripartite agreement establishing terms of service for Gurkhas and their transition from Hong Kong back to the UK in 1997. He discussed the Gurkha offer to transfer (GOTT) introduced by Labour in 2007, allowing veterans to opt into the AFPS pension scheme at a higher rate. Francois also mentioned the recent campaign led by Joanna Lumley and others for immigration changes, enabling Gurkhas who served four years or more to settle with their families in the UK. He advocated revisiting pension arrangements to align them with current standards and suggested that an expanded British Army might consider using additional Gurkha recruits due to their reliable service record.

Called on Mark Francois to provide a more definitive response or proposal regarding the welfare of Gurkhas in Britain, urging him to be more assertive in addressing the issue raised by other speakers.

I thank the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Cameron Thomas) for introducing the debate and acknowledge the contribution of Gurkhas to the Falklands War. I represent my colleagues in the Ministry of Defence who lead on Gurkha issues. The Minister for Veterans and People is willing to meet him to discuss his questions. I honour the service of Gurkhas and their families over 200 years, acknowledging their unique history and contribution. We have measures in place to support Gurkha veterans and their families through welfare support, collaborations with representatives, and the implementation of cross-Government opportunities such as clearer immigration guidance, targeted outreach for benefits, and stronger health and social care. Gurkhas also benefit from UK Government funding supporting welfare provision in Nepal. Additionally, they are entitled to provisions under the armed forces covenant and receive equal support through Valour services. I recognise the Gurkha communities in constituencies across the House and praise their contributions. I address concerns raised by my hon. Friends regarding direct flights and recruitment of women into the Gurkhas. On pensions, while the monthly payments may be smaller than those for British soldiers, they are paid over a longer period, often until 33 years old. This means that most Gurkha pension scheme recipients receive pensions at least as good as or better than those received by British soldiers. Since 2006, all new recruits join the armed forces pension scheme alongside their British colleagues. We have taken steps to address immigration and settlement issues, scrapping visa fees for non-UK veterans serving four years or more.

I ask whether it is concerning that Reform UK Members did not contribute to the debate despite its importance on defence and Gurkha issues. I emphasise the harmonious nature of contributions from across the House.

I thank everyone who contributed, including hon. Members from Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, and DUP parties. We had well-mannered contributions on Gurkha issues, with praise for the Minister's presence.

The debate was short and sweet, and I support the resolution to consider support for Gurkha veterans.