Gurkha Soldiers
Home Department
Written answers and statements, 10 February 2005
Ms Annabelle Ewing (Spokesperson (Social Security (SNP Shadow Scottish Minister); Education & Skills; Home Office; Law Officers; Work & Pensions); Perth, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Gurkha soldiers living in the UK are not entitled to UK citizenship because their service ended prior to 1 July 1997; and what percentage of the total number of Gurkha soldiers living in the UK they represent.
Mr Des Browne (Minister of State (Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-Terrorism), Home Office; Kilmarnock & Loudoun, Labour)
Before applying for citizenship a Gurkha needs to have been granted settlement in the UK. It is not possible to provide the information requested because this would require examination of individual case files which could be done only at disproportionate cost.