{"id":53111,"date":"2015-01-29T16:50:13","date_gmt":"2015-01-29T16:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=9ed699b1c629d2476978a3a20ce89384"},"modified":"2015-01-29T16:50:13","modified_gmt":"2015-01-29T16:50:13","slug":"news-story-new-support-package-for-gurkha-veterans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=53111","title":{"rendered":"News story: New support package for Gurkha veterans"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"govspeak\">\n<p>Through the Armed Forces Covenant, funding of \u00a3960,000 will be given to Gurkha Homes Limited to build 32 new affordable homes for Gurkha veterans and their partner\/spouse in 4 locations around the UK. <\/p>\n<p>The money comes from the \u00a340 million <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/veterans-accommodation-fund\">Veterans\u2019 Accommodation fund<\/a>, allocated to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/policies\/fulfilling-the-commitments-of-the-armed-forces-covenant\/supporting-pages\/armed-forces-covenant\">Armed Forces Covenant<\/a> from <abbr title=\"London Interbank Offered Rate\">Libor<\/abbr> (bank) fines.<\/p>\n<p>This is in addition to the \u00a35 million funding from <abbr title=\"London Interbank Offered Rate\">Libor<\/abbr> fines to be paid to the <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gwt.org.uk\/\">Gurkha Welfare Trust<\/a> (<abbr title=\"Gurkha Welfare Trust\">GWT<\/abbr>) over the next 5 years that was announced in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/topical-events\/autumn-statement-2014\">Autumn Statement<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Through the <abbr title=\"Gurkha Welfare Trust\">GWT<\/abbr>\u2019s delivery arm in Nepal, the money will be used for healthcare provision and wider social support services for Gurkha veterans.<\/p>\n<p>This government is proud that Gurkhas now serve on the same terms and conditions as their British counterparts, apart from a number of small differences.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/government-response-to-an-inquiry-into-gurkha-welfare\">government\u2019s response<\/a> also reaffirms its commitment to pay Gurkha pensions at double the top rate of Indian Army pensions.<\/p>\n<p>Significantly, the government has also decided to establish a scheme to compensate the small number of Gurkhas who were discharged as a result of marrying a non-Nepali. <\/p>\n<p>When seen in a 21st century context, the government does not believe this policy should have been allowed as it does not reflect the values of the armed forces. <\/p>\n<p>The decisions come after Jackie Doyle-Price MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkha Welfare, offered to chair an inquiry into historic Gurkha grievances in November 2013. <\/p>\n<p>The inquiry published its report on 23 October 2014 and the government has now responded to its recommendations. <\/p>\n<p>The <abbr title=\"Ministry of Defence\">MOD<\/abbr> and other Departments submitted extensive written evidence to the inquiry and it has taken a range of written submissions and oral evidence from representatives of Gurkha communities. <\/p>\n<p>Anna Soubry, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The Gurkhas hold a special place in the hearts of the British people \u2013 this year, we mark the bicentenary of Gurkha service in the British Army.<\/p>\n<p>We are very grateful to Jackie Doyle-Price MP for her excellent report.<\/p>\n<p>The work we\u2019re doing to implement its positive recommendations will set the scene for the next chapter in the UK\u2019s close and enduring relationship with the Gurkhas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">In turn, they will further cement the strong bonds between the UK and Nepal.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Measures to improve financial and social support have been announced by the Government in response to an inquiry into Gurkha welfare.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53111"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=53111"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53111\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=53111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=53111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=53111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}