The Ministry of Defence has said it has no new proposals to provide Gurkha veterans with additional pension benefits equivalent to those received by other British Army veterans, stating that pension arrangements are already aligned for most service.
In written answers published on 5 February, Defence Minister Louise Sandher-Jones responded to questions from Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster on whether the government plans to bring forward proposals for equal pension benefits, and whether any assessment has been made of the impact of not doing so.
Sandher-Jones said the government values the contribution of Gurkha soldiers and pointed to pension changes introduced nearly two decades ago.
“Since 2007, Gurkhas have received the same pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme as the rest of the UK Armed Forces,” she said. For Gurkha veterans who served prior to 2007, Sandher-Jones stated that the 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme generally provides comparable or better pension outcomes.
“For those who served prior to 2007, for the large majority, the 1948 Gurkha Pension Scheme provides a pension at least as good, and in many cases better, than that given to their British counterparts with identical periods of service,” she said.
The minister added that the MoD continues to work with Gurkha representatives and the Government of Nepal on a range of veteran issues. “We continue to work closely with Gurkha representatives and the Government of Nepal on a range of veteran issues and remain committed to ensuring Gurkha veterans are treated with fairness and respect,” she said.
