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Gurkha settlement plan 'in weeks' | Gurkha settlement plan 'in weeks' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Changes to rules governing the right of Gurkhas to settle in Britain will be announced within three weeks, the High Court has been told. | |
Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing the former soldiers, said the home secretary and lawyers for the Gurkhas had agreed "on almost everything". | Edward Fitzgerald QC, representing the former soldiers, said the home secretary and lawyers for the Gurkhas had agreed "on almost everything". |
The Gurkhas have returned to the High Court to try to make the government act on a ruling made last September. | |
The court had said excluding those who retired before 1997 was unlawful. | |
A Home Office spokesman indicated the test cases would now be reviewed by 7 May and it would initially reconsider all the other outstanding cases by the middle of June. | A Home Office spokesman indicated the test cases would now be reviewed by 7 May and it would initially reconsider all the other outstanding cases by the middle of June. |
It had originally said it was to review all cases by the end of 2008 but asked for an extra three months to publish a new policy for more than 1,300 Gurkhas. | It had originally said it was to review all cases by the end of 2008 but asked for an extra three months to publish a new policy for more than 1,300 Gurkhas. |
'Galvanised by death' | 'Galvanised by death' |
Solicitor Martin Howe, who also represents the former soldiers, said the veterans had shown integrity and patience and were further galvanised by the death on 15 March of a Gurkha refused entry to the UK. | Solicitor Martin Howe, who also represents the former soldiers, said the veterans had shown integrity and patience and were further galvanised by the death on 15 March of a Gurkha refused entry to the UK. |
There are thought to be more than 300 veterans in the UK waiting for their cases to be decided. | There are thought to be more than 300 veterans in the UK waiting for their cases to be decided. |
Prominent supporter actress Joanna Lumley - whose father served with the Gurkhas - said it was a "chance to right a great wrong". | Prominent supporter actress Joanna Lumley - whose father served with the Gurkhas - said it was a "chance to right a great wrong". |
Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years and are hand picked from a fiercely-contested recruitment contest in Nepal to win the right to join. | Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years and are hand picked from a fiercely-contested recruitment contest in Nepal to win the right to join. |
They have seen combat all over the world, with 200,000 fighting in the two world wars. | They have seen combat all over the world, with 200,000 fighting in the two world wars. |