To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the cost of compensating all living Gurkhas who have completed their service for pay received below levels provided to British servicemen and women serving at the same time. (81939)

No estimate has been made. Gurkhas serve under their own terms and conditions of service, which we maintain are fair and appropriate to their unique status.

Since 1997, universal addition to Gurkha pay has ensured that they receive the same take-home pay as their British counterparts. This also applied to Gurkhas serving in the UK since 1972; those serving elsewhere received the appropriate cost of living allowance.