The Government fully recognise the proud tradition of loyal service that the Gurkhas have given over the past 200 years. Any Gurkha who has completed at least four years’ service in the British Army and was discharged on or after 1 July 1997 is able to apply for permanent residence within two years of their discharge. Applications from Gurkhas discharged before 1 July 1997 are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The Government, having accepted the principle that former Gurkhas who left after 1997 should be allowed to remain in the UK, should take this small further step, which would be a giant step for the Gurkhas concerned. There is a lot of affection for the Gurkhas, so a small gesture, with support across the House and across the country, would be greatly appreciated by many people.
I think the whole House would empathise with the sentiments underlying the hon. Gentleman’s question. As I said, however, after 1997 any Gurkha who has served for four years is able to apply for permanent residence, but the year of 1997 remains central to the debate. It was, of course, after the handover of Hong Kong in 1997 that Gurkhas could anticipate a period of service in the UK; before 1997, that was extremely unlikely, so the difference in approach remains important. We are using 1997 as a dividing line, but we are taking a more nuanced approach, involving consideration of individual circumstances—including ties to the UK, but also the contribution to this country—in respect of Gurkhas who retired from the armed forces before the handover of Hong Kong.