Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on requests to offer Fijian soldiers who served in the UK armed forces citizenship in response to their service.

Commonwealth Service personnel, including Fijian nationals, who meet Home Office criteria can make an application for British citizenship while serving. However, this is an individual choice as it can have personal implications in some countries.

Commonwealth and Gurkha personnel can also choose to make an application to settle in the UK on their discharge from the UK Armed Forces after at least four years' service or following their discharge for medical reasons associated with their service.

We recognise that the fees for such applications place a financial burden on Service personnel who wish to remain in the UK after service and the Defence Secretary has met with the Home Secretary to consider how we could offer greater flexibility in future. We will launch a public consultation on this matter imminently.