Gurkha Veterans

Debate between Nusrat Ghani and Sojan Joseph

Thursday 26th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sojan Joseph (Ashford) (Lab)]

It is crucial that we continue to recognise the invaluable contributions of the Gurkhas, both militarily and in our communities, and I thank the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Cameron Thomas) for securing this debate and explaining eloquently the issues that the Gurkha community faces. We need to continue the conversation about the important role they play in our society.

The Gurkhas in my constituency of Ashford and Hawkinge have been a model of dedication and contribution to the wider community, and I could not be prouder to have a thriving Gurkha community in my constituency. Many members of that community are veterans and their families, and many own businesses that contribute to local growth on our high streets, enhance our local culture through Nepalese food, festivals and celebrations, and organise charity events such as litter-picks and walks around the parks in my constituency. Often, veterans take the lead to provide help to the rest of their community through organisations that bind us closer together at a time when we risk becoming more fractured than ever before.

Our shared history with the Gurkhas is demonstrated most clearly by their 200 years of distinguished service as part of the British Army, including their bravery and sacrifices in both world wars, most notably during the north African and Burmese campaigns in the second world war, where they earned 12 Victoria Crosses, and their service against the Ottomans in the first world war, among many other campaigns. The Gurkhas have continued to serve in modern peacekeeping operations, such as in Kosovo and Sierra Leone, and still serve bravely to this day. I saw that at first hand when I participated in various visits as part of the armed forces parliamentary scheme, which my colleagues have mentioned.

I know that the Gurkhas’ dedication to service is recognised by all Members across this House and by this Labour Government. Part of that recognition involves ensuring the dignity of Gurkha veterans. That is why I wrote to my hon. Friend the Minister for Veterans and People to ask what measures would be taken to explore the welfare needs and long-standing pension issues of Gurkha veterans. I was pleased that, in her response, the Minister outlined the Government’s commitment to explore measures to address the welfare needs of Gurkha veterans, in both the UK and Nepal, and that Ministry of Defence officials have been instructed to continue discussions with the Gurkha veterans’ representatives. I urge the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, who is on the Front Bench today, to update us on how that is progressing.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Mental Health Support: Educational Settings

Debate between Nusrat Ghani and Sojan Joseph

Thursday 13th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sojan Joseph]

I agree, and I have many similar cases. I want to refer some real-life examples. There is an excellent exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall this week about the Mental Health Act, which has been put together by Mind. It features artwork and written pieces by people who have been detained under the current Act. I had the pleasure of meeting some of them on Monday, including a young lady called Afeefa. Afeefa is 19 but was first detained under the Act when she was 14. She spoke powerfully and movingly about the treatment that she endured while she was under section. When I asked her if there was one thing that could have helped her, she said without hesitation that if she had received mental health support at an earlier stage, her experience would have been very different.

I recall two examples from my experience of working in mental health system that demonstrate the difference that early intervention and support can make. They are of two young people of similar age: one is a teenage boy, who unfortunately has not been able to access the support he needs and, as a result, is struggling to cope. That is not only impacting on his mental health but is having a detrimental impact on his family, especially his parents.

By contrast, in the second case, the parents of a teenage girl who had been diagnosed with a mental health condition knew that I worked in mental health at the time and came to see me. I was able to ensure that she was referred to CAMHS at an early stage. As a result, both she and her parents are doing well. She is due to sit her A-levels in the summer. These examples underline how children who receive support quickly are less likely to develop long-term conditions that negatively affect their education, social development and health later in life.

I welcome the fact that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education has been clear that children’s wellbeing will be a priority for this Government. Research from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy indicates that children whose mental health difficulties are initially too complex for lower intensity interventions, but not complex enough to be referred to higher intensity interventions such as CAMHS, can easily miss out on the mental health support that they need. Ensuring enough mental health support for children and young people in educational settings will help to free up NHS time and resources, while making sure that we have a healthy and productive population in the future.

We should also make sure that support exists in the community. Can the Minister provide an update on the Government’s plans for Young Futures hubs? Does he agree that open access drop-in hubs could be an important step in providing community-based mental health support for children and young people?

There is clear evidence that the places and circumstances in which people are born grow, study, live and work have a powerful influence on their mental health. As Place2Be has said, children and young people from low-income families are four times more likely to experience mental health problems than children from higher income families, while one in four children and young people with a diagnosed mental health condition live in a household that has experienced a reduction in household income. This is why I want reform of the way that we deal with mental health. From Westminster, I would like greater cross-Government working to address the social detriments of our mental health. At a local level, I believe that greater co-operation between schools, colleges and universities, along with local health providers and others in the local community, can help create education settings that are effective at protecting young people’s mental health and general wellbeing. Taking that long-term approach will help create a society that prevents mental ill health for children and young people in the first place.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Due to the number of withdrawals, Members may have noticed that we have stopped the clocks timing speeches. There are two colleagues left, and I will allow you to police yourselves. Members on the Front Benches want to be up by 4.30 pm, so I will let you manage the time between yourselves.