For many years, The Royal British Legion has stepped forward to ensure our brave Gurkha soldiers are provided with the necessities of living while they have fought their court battle for residency rights in the UK. In the last year alone, we have provided assistance to 186 Gurkhas and their families left in dire straits by their legal uncertainty," said a Legion statement.
"We believe that the Government's revised criteria for Gurkha settlement lacks clarity and has introduced requirements which are either impossible to meet or unreasonably stringent," it added.
Gurkha soldiers are only allowed to serve for a maximum of 15 years. The new requirement to have completed 20 years service is far too high and exclusive.
The Legion said it welcomes the new criteria requiring medical conditions to be linked to service in the Armed Forces, as this will help a considerable number of vulnerable Gurkhas. But the new criteria excludes earlier discretionary powers that allowed all medical conditions to be a factor in applications for settlement, and the Legion said these powers should be reinstated.
"When the Sovereign's grandson was sent to Khandahar, the Gurkha was chosen to protect him," said the Legion's National Chairman, Peter Cleminson. "It makes no sense to be so mean to those sworn to serve our Sovereign and whose grandson they have defended in battle."
"The Legion calls on the Government urgently to reconsider its criteria for Gurkha settlement," he added.
Liskeard Branch Of The Royal British Legion
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