§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the pension arrangements for the Gurkhas serving the Crown are the same as for other members of the armed services. [37096]
§ Mr. SoamesNo. Pensions received by ex-British Gurkha pensioners are governed by the 1947 tripartite agreement, between the Governments of the United Kingdom, India and Nepal. Under the terms of this agreement, which requires British Gurkha personnel to be discharged in their homeland of Nepal, pension provision is governed by the rates paid to Indian Army pensioners. All British Gurkha personnel have to serve a minimum of 15 years before they are eligible to receive a service retirement pension.