To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) tax and (b) other payments Gurkhas who retired before 1997 were required to make during their service to the Government; and if he will make a statement. (279747)

Before 1 July 1997 the Brigade of Gurkhas was based in the far east. Only those soldiers who came to the United Kingdom on a tour of duty and those commissioned through the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst paid tax.

Other payments made from a Gurkha's pay may have included recovery of debts including military fines and forfeitures of pay, overpayments, debit balances, payment of civil fines and judgment debts.

Voluntary payments may also have been made for allotments to family members in Nepal, savings and insurance schemes.