Gurkha veterans in Powys face 'shockingly low' pensions
Calls have been made to address the injustice facing Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997, many of whom now live in communities Powys, but are being forced to survive on 'shockingly low pensions, far below the UK's national living wage'.
MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick met Gurkha veterans demonstrating in Westminster and has now submitted an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling on the Government to end this discrimination, gaining cross-party support.
Despite fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with British soldiers in every major conflict for over 200 years, Gurkhas who left the British Army before 1 July 1997 are still trapped on the outdated Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS).
The Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS) assumed that Gurkhas would return to Nepal after their service in the British Army and not settle in the UK.
As a result, it pays far less than the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) given to British soldiers, despite Gurkhas performing the same job.
Today, many of these veterans, now settled in the UK, are living in poverty, including in Brecon and the surrounding areas, where they and their families have been part of the local community for generations.
'It is unacceptable that Gurkha soldiers who served before 1997 and put their lives on the line for our country have been denied equal pensions, 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," said Mr Chadwick.
'I will continue to stand against this injustice and use my voice in Parliament to fight for all Gurkhas, regardless of the date of retirement, to be granted full access to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme on an equal footing.
'I have already submitted a Parliamentary Early Day Motion on the issue with cross-party support and hope to take the issue up directly with Ministers at the earliest opportunity.'
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Mr Chadwick has also written to the Veterans Minister to request a meeting to discuss the issue in more detail.
In his letter he said: 'These individuals served Britain with bravery, professionalism, and loyalty. They fought alongside British soldiers in the same conflicts, under the same conditions, but continue to be denied equal recognition in retirement.
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