Premiership of Gordon Brown into further talks over the issue. Finally, after a Commons Home Affairs Committee meeting between campaigners, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office on 19 May, Brown announced to the House of Commons on 20 May that the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith would make a statement on the issue the following day. Smith subsequently announced that all Gurkha veterans who had served four years or more in the British Army before 1997 would be allowed to settle in Britain. In the days following the release and high-profile return to Libya of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in August 2009, speculation
Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway line a short distance south of the geographical junction with the Castle Douglas line. The Caledonian Railway constructed a large goods yard to the north-east of the G&SWR passenger station, accessed by a spur east of the junction with the G&SWR. An engine turntable was provided there. The line was single throughout. The passenger stations were: Lockerbie and Dumfries stations are still open; the intermediate stations closed to passengers on 19 May 1952. On 14 May 1883, at 11:35 pm, a train from Stranraer passed at danger the signal protecting the main line at Lockerbie, and collided at low speed