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Blair praises Gurkhas



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Friday, 24 December, 1999, 07:01 GMT=20
Blair praises Gurkhas=20


       Gurkha soldiers on patrol inside Kosovo
    =20



The prime minister has praised Britain's Gurkhas, saying the decision to =
double their pensions was to give them and their families "a better =
future".=20

His comments came after the announcement that the British Army was set =
to double pension allowances for the Gurkhas from April 2000.=20




      Few fighting forces are more respected for their courage, grit and =
sheer professionalism than the British Gurkhas
    =20
      Tony Blair =20
The Ministry of Defence said a review of pension arrangements for =
Gurkhas recruited into the army from Nepal had recommended a minimum =
100% increase.=20

Writing in The Mirror newspaper, Tony Blair said: "Few fighting forces =
are more respected for their courage, grit and sheer professionalism =
than the British Gurkhas.=20

"The men who served alongside them during the Second World War in Burma =
can testify to that. And more recently the Gurkhas have played a leading =
role in restoring peace and stability not only to Kosovo but also to =
East Timor."=20

An increase in the allowances for the much feared fighting force had =
been long forecast.=20

Armed Forces Minister John Spellar said: "We are doubling the pensions =
for all retired Gurkhas. For some of the older retired Gurkhas, the =
increases will be even higher.=20

Easing inequality=20

"Nepalese Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for nearly 200 =
years. They are proud to serve with us, and we are proud to have them.=20