HC Deb 11 March 1992 vol 205 cc573-6W
Mr. Thorne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the maximum levels of pensions payable in 1992–93 to Gurkha personnel specially or prematurely retired or discharged as part of the planned reduction in the Brigade of Gurkhas for(a) privates, (b) corporals, (c) sergeants, (d) warrant officers class I, (e) lieutenants, (f) captains and (g) majors with (i) six years' reckonable service, (ii) nine years' reckonable service and (iii) 12 years' reckonable service.

Monthly rates of Gurkha addition—Hong Kong
Effective Date—1 April 1991
Rank Single unaccompanied Married accompanied Special Gurkha addition
Rifleman 470.10
Less than 4 years service 113.48 186.43
After 4 years service 14418 220.97
After 5 years service 159.94 238.25
After 6 years service 174.91 255.54
After 7 years service 190.29 272.84
After 10 years service 198.24 281.78
After 12 years service 206.09 290.61
Corporal 219.71 589.06 320.81
Sergeant 224.80 606.91 328.76
Warrant Officer Class I 251.81 687.00 369.16
Lieutenant (QGO) 261.50 714.37 383.48
Captain (QGO) 288.56 786.72 422.97
Major (QGO) 318.48 866.45 466.60

Monthly rates are £ Sterling at an exchange rate of HKS 12.60/£ as at 1 July 1991.

Mr. Thorne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide figures for 1992–93 of the maximum levels of special grant payment to Gurkha personnel specially or prematurely retired or discharged as part of the planned reduction in the Brigade of Gurkhas for(a) privates, (b) corporals, (c) sergeants, (d) warrant officers Class I, (e)

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Gurkhas' redundancy scheme provides for credit of service to be given to Gurkhas specially or prematurely retired or discharged before completing the normal maximum length of service for their rank. The effect is that the pensions shown in the table, which are the rates payable at their normal maximum length of service, will be paid to personnel made redundant with reckonable service within the bands listed. In addition privates and corporals made redundant with between four and 10 years service will receive a pension at the special rate of £15.34 per month at 1991–92 levels. Rates for 1992–93 are not yet available.

Maximum Pensions Payable—April 1991
Rank Reckonable Service on Redundancy Pension Rate
Rifleman 10—15 years 20.46
Corporal 10—15 years 22.08
Sergeant 12—18 years 28.58
Warrant Officer Class I 15—22 years 37.25
Lieutenant—QGO 17—24 years 45.38
Captain QGO 21—28 years 62.72
Major—QGO 21—28 years 73.97

QGO—Queen's Gurkha Officer.

Monthly rates are in £ Sterling calculated at an exchange rate 34.50

Indian Rupees/£.

Mr. Thorne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify for 1992–93 the single and married levels of (i) the Hong Kong Gurkha addition and (ii) the special rate Gurkha addition payable as a component of the special capital payment to Gurkha personnel specially or prematurely retired or discharged as part of the planned reduction in the Brigade of Gurkhas.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The table shows the single and married accompanied levels of the Hong Kong Gurkha addition payable from 1 July 1991, and the rates of special Gurkha addition used in the calculation of special capital payments to Gurkhas made redundant. The rates of 1992–93 are not yet available.

lieutenants, (f) captains and (g) majors with (i) six years' reckonable service, (ii) nine years' reckonable service and (iii) 12 years' reckonable service.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The table shows the levels of special capital payment payable to Gurkhas made redundant, against the years of service for each rank for which redundancy is currently envisaged. This amount is shown in pounds sterling as calculated at August 1991. Rates for 1992–93 are not yet available.

Payments in respect of soldiers are calculated for class I personnel on the lowest band.

Special capital payments for Gurkhas made redundant
Year of service Rifleman £ Corporal £ Sergeant £ WOI £ Lieutenant (QGO) £ Captain (QGO) £ Major (QGO) £
1
2
3
4 1,254 1,763
5 1,680 2,208
6 2,150 2,653
7 2,931 3,602
8 3,493 4,590
9 4,347 5,584
10 5,674 6,416
11 4,737 5,357
12 3,903 4,295 5,531
13 2,927 3,221 5,531 6,176 6,487
14 1,951 2,147 5,531 6,176 6,487
15 Nil Nil 4,425 6,176 6,487
16 3,318 6,179 6,487
17 2,212 6,176 6,487
18 Nil 6,176 6,487 7,214
19 4,941 6,487 7,214
20 3,705 6,487 7,214
21 2,470 5,189 7,214
22 Nil 3,892 7,214
23 2,594 7,214 7,994
24 Nil 7,214 7,994
25 5,771 7,994
26 4,328 7,994
27 2,885 7,994
28 Nil 7,994
29 6,395
30 4,796
31 3,197
32 Nil

Mr. Thorne

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy for the rules governing Gurkhas' pensions always to be interpreted to provide the maximum theoretical entitlement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is the Department's policy that pensions are paid to Gurkhas at the rates to which they are entitled under the provisions of the appropriate code.

All figures take account of length of service increments, but not good service pay, which is calculated on an individual basis.

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