Questions
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances were made to Joanna Lumley after her discussion with the Prime Minister about Gurkhas. [HL3517]
The meeting that took place between Ms Lumley and the Prime Minister on 6 May 2009 was a private meeting.
On 21 May 2009 the Home Secretary announced a revised policy for considering applications for settlement from former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what, by rank of soldier, were the percentage deductions for pension and other contributions from serving Gurkhas' pay in each year between 1987 and 1997. [HL4107]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Gurkhas who served and retired prior to 1997 (a) paid taxes in the United Kingdom; (b) paid United Kingdom national insurance contributions; and (c) had other compulsory deductions from their pay while serving in Her Majesty's Armed Forces. [HL4109]
The Gurkha pension scheme has always been a non-contributory scheme for all ranks.
Gurkhas who served before 1 July 1997 paid tax only when serving in the UK, and they did not pay any national insurance contributions as they were excluded from the scheme by the Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) Regulations 1978, SI 1978 No. 1689.
There were no other compulsory deductions of a statutory nature from pay. For the minority of Gurkhas who spent time in the UK, 10 per cent was deducted from their pay for their resettlement grant payable at the end of service but their take home pay was still broadly comparable with the wider Army.