Feb. 27 2024
Source Page: Immigration Rules archive: 19 February 2024 to 21 February 2024Found: For the purposes of these Rules the term "Gurkha" means a citizen or national of Nepal who has served
Feb. 22 2024
Source Page: Immigration Rules archive: 31 January 2024 to 18 February 2024Found: For the purposes of these Rules the term "Gurkha" means a citizen or national of Nepal who has served
Feb. 20 2024
Source Page: Minister Mitchell's development funding speech in NepalFound: Minister Mitchell's development funding speech in Nepal
Feb. 20 2024
Source Page: Minister for Development launches new UK-Nepal development portfolioFound: Minister for Development launches new UK-Nepal development portfolio
Feb. 20 2024
Source Page: Immigration Rules archive: 28 December 2023 to 15 January 2024Found: For the purposes of these Rules the term "Gurkha" means a citizen or nation al of Nepal who has served
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of caste-based discrimination in Nepal; what part of the Overseas Development Assistance is being used to support Dalit women across South Asia and specifically in Nepal; and what resources they have made available for grassroots organisations supporting Dalit women’s rights.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Gender inequality and social exclusion are significant challenges in Nepal. Whilst Nepal has a progressive constitution and many progressive laws and policies, implementation issues remain. The rights of women and girls is one of FCDO's core goals in Nepal. We fund grassroot organisations which work with the most vulnerable including Dalit communities and regularly engage with Dalit organisations to inform our existing and future programming. The UK is invested in shifting negative norms in society and institutions, improving processes and strengthening systems. Full information on our programmes can be found on DevTracker.
Feb. 15 2024
Source Page: Tuberculosis in England, 2023 report (data up to end of 2022)Found: Somalia (n)Somalia (%)Philippines (n)Philippines (%)Afghanistan (n)Afghanistan (%)Poland (n)Poland (%)Nepal
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with the Gurkha Welfare Trust in each year since 2019.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) is an independent charity that works closely with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Its focus is on the Gurkha welfare pensioners who need the most assistance. Minsters from the MOD have met with the GWT twice since 2019.
The Minister for Defence People and Families met with the GWT Chairman and others in Nepal in January 2023 where he saw for himself the excellent work carried out by the GWT to support our Gurkha veterans and in September 2023, he met the GWT Executive Team and Directors in 2023 to better understand the medical provision in Nepal.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he expects there to be further tripartite talks between (a) his Department, (b) Gurkha veterans and (c) the government of Nepal.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 12925 on 8 February 2024.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what dates has the Minister for Defence People and Families had discussions with representatives from Nepal on pensions for Gurkha veterans in the UK in each year since 2019.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Bilateral Gurkha Veteran Welfare Committee, which is jointly chaired by the Minister for Defence People and Families and His Excellency, The Ambassador of Nepal, met on the following dates: 3 November 2022, 19 April 2023, and the 22 November 2023. The next Bilateral Gurkha Veteran Welfare Committee is due to take place 27 March 2024.
In order to facilitate in depth technical discussion about welfare and pension concerns, a working group was set up. The membership of the working group includes Government of Nepal representatives, Gurkha veterans and widows as well as MOD and officials from other relevant Government departments. The working group met on: 30 November 2022, 15 December 2022, 15 June 2023, and the 11 September 2023. The next working group is due to meet on the 21 February 2024.
The Government’s view is that the Gurkha Pension Scheme is fair. Gurkha pensions are different, but these differences are objectively and reasonably justified and well suited to the circumstances of the time. The legal basis for Gurkha pensions has been upheld by three Judicial Reviews since 2003, including a case that went to the European Court of Human Rights.
The Tripartite Agreement 1947 (TPA 1947) is an agreement between the UK, Nepal and India that provides the formal basis for the employment of the Brigade of Gurkhas within the British Army. There are no Tripartite discussions currently.