Got this just now. At least he has responded;
Dear JohnFairr
Thank you very much for your email regarding the treatment of Gurkha
Corporal Gyenendra Rai for wounds sustained during the Falklands
conflict.
I hope you will appreciate that, without knowing the all the facts, I amirr
not in a position to comment in detail on Mr Rai's case.
However, I do recognise that, time and time again, the Gurkhas have
proved their calibre, having won 13 Victoria Crosses since they were
first recruited in 1815. Their motto - "better to die than be a coward"
- reveals their tremendous dedication and commitment to providing some
of the best soldiers in the world.
As I understand it, the Government amended the immigration rules in 2004
to allow those Gurkhas that have given more than four years service to
the British Army to be entitled to remain in the United Kingdom
indefinitely, as long as they were discharged from service after 1st
July 1997. This was the date when the Gurkhas became a UK-based force,
following withdrawal from their previous base in Hong Kong. Although
those that were discharged prior to this date are not covered by this
new rule, they can still apply to remain in the UK. However, they must
be able to demonstrate close personal ties with the UK, such as children
being educated here, and the discretion to grant leave to remain on this
basis remains with the Home Office.
I will of course forward your letter to the Home Secretary so that he is
aware of your concerns about Mr Pun's situation and let you know as soon
as I get a reply. I hope that we can put pressure on the government to
treat him with the fairness and dignity he deserves.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write to me. Please do not
hesitate to get in touch if I can be of further assistance.
Best wishes,
Jeremy Hunt
I assume that whoever ends up as Home Secretary after the Wednesday shenaniggans willfile this at the bottom of their "Too Hard" tray!!
jf