EDM 1529: Gurkha pensions

That this House honours the extraordinary loyalty and service of the Gurkha soldiers who have fought alongside British forces for over 200 years; notes with deep concern that thousands of Gurkha veterans who retired before 1 July 1997 remain trapped on inferior pensions under the outdated Gurkha Pension Scheme, leaving many in poverty here in the UK, including in communities such as Brecon where Gurkha veterans and their families have made an enduring contribution; condemns this longstanding injustice, which denies these veterans the full recognition and support they deserve; rejects the Government’s current transfer offer as wholly inadequate and financially punitive; believes that all Gurkhas, regardless of date of retirement, should be granted full access to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme on an equal, year-for-year basis; further believes that this ongoing discrimination against Gurkha veterans is a dereliction of the UK's moral duty under the Armed Forces Covenant; and calls on the Government to act without further delay to end this injustice and ensure that every Gurkha veteran receives the full and equal pension they have earned through their loyal service to the United Kingdom.