SETTLEMENT FOR FORMER GURKHA SOLDIERS AND THE HOME AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE

That 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 20 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; and calls on the Government to withdraw these guidelines and bring forward a new and more equitable ruling.