§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend at an early date to review and advance the pay and allowances of members of the Brigades of Gurkhas now stationed within the Commonwealth.]
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, the rules for pay are different from those for allowances. Gurkhas may be 853 recruited into the Indian Army or the British Army, and to avoid competition in recruitment it was agreed in the treaty of 1947 that Gurkhas in either Army should be paid the same; that is, the Indian rate of pay. We are unable, therefore, to make an independent increase. We do, however, make an allowance in addition to pay according to the country in which a Gurkha is serving, and a further allowance if he is accompanied by his family. The rate of these allowances is now under review.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that reply. May I impress upon him the need for speed in this review, because I think the Minister will agree that it is an injustice to this fine body of soldiers serving in Malaya that they should be at a disadvantage in the matter of pay in relation to the Malayan regiments.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWMy Lords, as I have said, the review is now on and I am sure it will be carried out with all possible speed.