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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Better pensions for some Gurkhas | Better pensions for some Gurkhas |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gurkhas serving in the Army will now get the same pensions as British soldiers, the Ministry of Defence has announced. | Gurkhas serving in the Army will now get the same pensions as British soldiers, the Ministry of Defence has announced. |
| Currently, they receive just a sixth of the average Army pension and many ex-Gurkhas say they are left destitute. | |
| But the reforms will not apply to Nepalese soldiers who retired before July 1997, leaving many disappointed. | But the reforms will not apply to Nepalese soldiers who retired before July 1997, leaving many disappointed. |
| Defence Minister Derek Twigg also revealed that women could soon serve in the Gurkhas for the first time. | Defence Minister Derek Twigg also revealed that women could soon serve in the Gurkhas for the first time. |
| And all Gurkhas will get the same leave entitlements - 30 days a year - as the rest of the Army. | And all Gurkhas will get the same leave entitlements - 30 days a year - as the rest of the Army. |
| 'Right thing' | 'Right thing' |
| Mr Twigg told the Commons the reforms were "the right thing to do". | Mr Twigg told the Commons the reforms were "the right thing to do". |
| "The improved terms and conditions of service will form the basis for continued Gurkha service in the British Army, which is made possible by the long standing and friendly relations between the governments and peoples of the United Kingdom and Nepal," he said. | "The improved terms and conditions of service will form the basis for continued Gurkha service in the British Army, which is made possible by the long standing and friendly relations between the governments and peoples of the United Kingdom and Nepal," he said. |
| But the announcement will not satisfy campaigners who marched on Downing Street demanding equal pensions for all former Gurkhas, not just those who left after 1997. | But the announcement will not satisfy campaigners who marched on Downing Street demanding equal pensions for all former Gurkhas, not just those who left after 1997. |
| Major Tikendradal Dewan, from the Brigade of Gurkhas Welfare Society, said the MoD justified the cut off on the grounds that before that date Nepalese soldiers were based in Hong Kong, not the UK. | Major Tikendradal Dewan, from the Brigade of Gurkhas Welfare Society, said the MoD justified the cut off on the grounds that before that date Nepalese soldiers were based in Hong Kong, not the UK. |
| There was one man who was a Falklands War veteran and a hero, and he left in 1986 with nothing Phil ShinerHuman rights lawyer Who are the Gurkhas? | There was one man who was a Falklands War veteran and a hero, and he left in 1986 with nothing Phil ShinerHuman rights lawyer Who are the Gurkhas? |
| "But what they are ignoring is the fact that it was still Crown service and we were still paid by the taxpayers' money here," Maj Dewan said. | "But what they are ignoring is the fact that it was still Crown service and we were still paid by the taxpayers' money here," Maj Dewan said. |
| Those who left before July 1997 will still receive on average just £984 a year and some say this leaves them struggling to make ends meet. | Those who left before July 1997 will still receive on average just £984 a year and some say this leaves them struggling to make ends meet. |
| Human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, who campaigns on their behalf, said: "There was one man who was a Falklands War veteran and a hero, and he left in 1986 with nothing." | Human rights lawyer Phil Shiner, who campaigns on their behalf, said: "There was one man who was a Falklands War veteran and a hero, and he left in 1986 with nothing." |
| 'Major contribution' | 'Major contribution' |
| Other changes include giving Gurkhas the right to transfer to different units in the Army after five years of service and improving welfare services for their families. | Other changes include giving Gurkhas the right to transfer to different units in the Army after five years of service and improving welfare services for their families. |
| The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, praised the Nepalese troops on what he called a "historic day". | The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, praised the Nepalese troops on what he called a "historic day". |
| "Their contribution to operations around the world has been and will continue to be a major contribution to Britain's defence commitments," he said. | "Their contribution to operations around the world has been and will continue to be a major contribution to Britain's defence commitments," he said. |
| Mr Twigg's announcement comes a day after the launch of a union for Commonwealth soldiers serving in the Army. | Mr Twigg's announcement comes a day after the launch of a union for Commonwealth soldiers serving in the Army. |
| It was formed amid complaints of widespread racism, unfair treatment and a lack of welfare support, all of which were denied by the MoD. | It was formed amid complaints of widespread racism, unfair treatment and a lack of welfare support, all of which were denied by the MoD. |
| There are currently about 3,500 Gurkhas serving in the Army and close to 20,000 former soldiers living in Britain and Nepal. Are you a Gurkha serving in the British Army? Send us your experiences using the form below. | There are currently about 3,500 Gurkhas serving in the Army and close to 20,000 former soldiers living in Britain and Nepal. Are you a Gurkha serving in the British Army? Send us your experiences using the form below. |