The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, earlier this week asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Caroline Dinenage, if in her Departmental role, she will continue to ensure the unique circumstances associated with the Gurkha community are recognised in both the pensions and benefits systems.
Responding, Ms Dinenage said:
“I am married to a former Gurkha, so I fully understand and share my hon. Friend’s gratitude for their bravery and service. No member of our armed forces should be disadvantaged by their service to our country. I would like to reassure her that the DWP takes very seriously our commitment to the armed forces covenant. We will do everything we can, and work as hard as we can, to help them get the best possible support.”
Commenting afterwards, the MP for Eastleigh, Mims Davies said:
“I was delighted to recently have the opportunity to meet with the Gurkha community within my constituency, and hear first-hand about their culture, and the amazing work that they carry out supporting others both here in the UK, as well as when they visit relatives in Nepal.”
“At that meeting concerns were raised with me that in some cases, Gurkhas in receipt of welfare payments or pensions were being penalised by the system, with payments decreasing or stopping for those spending large amounts of time out of the country.”
“Gurkhas have and continue to put themselves on the front-line for our country, and I am pleased that we clearly have a Minister at the Department that is so aware of their unique situation, and a Government committed to supporting all of those in the armed forces, including our Gurkhas.”
Thousands of Gurkhas continue to serve in the British Armed Forces, while it is thought that as many as fifty thousand people of Nepalese origin now reside in the UK.