Asked by: Baroness Fookes (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to replace the bearskin caps worn by the King's Guards with faux bearskins.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
There have been four synthetic furs tested by accredited testing houses since 2015. The artificial fur tested in 2018 failed in all five of the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) basic requirements necessary in order to be considered further as a viable alternative for ceremonial caps areas.
Tests conducted in 2019 and 2020 on another two samples showed that, while the water penetration was reduced, it still did not meet the necessary standard. It also performed poorly in the remaining basic requirements areas. The most recent test results, provided by PETA from an accredited testing house, have also been analysed by the MOD. The analysis concluded that the fabric only met one of the five basic requirements.
This means that, to date, there is no faux fur alternative that meets the required standard for the King's Guards ceremonial caps.
Asked by: Baroness Fookes (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have tested the faux bearskins produced by the firm Ecopel; and if so, with what result.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
There have been four synthetic furs tested by accredited testing houses since 2015. The artificial fur tested in 2018 failed in all five of the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) basic requirements necessary in order to be considered further as a viable alternative for ceremonial caps areas.
Tests conducted in 2019 and 2020 on another two samples showed that, while the water penetration was reduced, it still did not meet the necessary standard. It also performed poorly in the remaining basic requirements areas. The most recent test results, provided by PETA from an accredited testing house, have also been analysed by the MOD. The analysis concluded that the fabric only met one of the five basic requirements.
This means that, to date, there is no faux fur alternative that meets the required standard for the King's Guards ceremonial caps.
Asked by: Baroness Fookes (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to set a date to reinstate the pensions of war widows that were withdrawn on remarriage or cohabitation before April 2015.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
Officials have now developed a number of options to be considered. The full financial and legal implications of these options are being explored so that the Defence Secretary can decide how to proceed. Work on this is continuing at pace both in the Ministry of Defence and across Government.