HC Deb 10 January 2000 vol 342 c89W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has completed his examination of Gurkha pensions. [103638]

Mr. Spellar

The examination of Gurkha pensions and gratuities is now complete. Within the terms of the Tri-Partite Agreement (TPA) between India, Nepal and the UK Gurkha pensions will be increased to allow for a welfare related cash uplift to take account of Indian Government benefits in kind that will at least double the pension payments for all Gurkha pensioners. Increases will be introduced from 1 April 2000. Pension increases will continue to be paid immediately after 15 years service and, where appropriate, passed on to the widow and then

Welbeck College State schools Independent schools Overseas schools
Financial year of entry Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Persentage Total
1994–95 27 4.4 284 46.6 277 45.5 21 3.5 609
1995–96 23 3.6 332 51.7 273 42.5 14 2.2 642
1996–97 24 3.6 341 51.3 293 44.1 6 1.0 664
1997–98 26 4.4 299 50.2 259 43.4 12 2.6 596
1998–99 22 3.7 289 48.7 274 46.1 9 1.5 594

Welbeck College is the Army's 6th Form College. The majority of its students are from the State sector.

Dr. Starkey

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of officers accepted for training at Sandhurst Military College have been discharged for medical reasons before completing their training, broken down by company, in each of the last five years. [103870]

Mr. Spellar

The information is not available in the detail requested. The numbers of British Officer Cadets who have been medically discharged from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in each of the last five calendar years, are as follows:

Calender year Numbers medically discharged Total in training
1995 40 (6%) 686
1996 26 (4%) 642
1997 122 (3%)
1998 119 (3%) 663
1999 16 (1%) 598
1 There are a number of cadets who are still undergoing treatment/remedial training and who may yet be medically discharged