To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is paid to Gurkha riflemen and Gurkha majors under the Gurkha Pension Scheme; and whether those incomes are below the United Kingdom poverty line. [HL1585]

The current pension rate under the Gurkha Pension Scheme at the normal exit point for a Gurkha Rifleman after 15 years service is £172 per month. For a Gurkha Major after 28 years’ service the current rate is £485 per month. Gurkha pensions were designed for life in Nepal where they constitute a good income. Poverty line calculations vary from individual to individual depending on circumstances. All ex-Gurkhas who chose to settle in the United Kingdom have access to the full range of benefits from the welfare state.