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1686736

registered interest
date	01/02/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the import of bearskin from Canada for use as hats.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	12573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence only purchases bearskin ceremonial caps made from pelts sourced from Canada which are:</p><ul><li>Legally imported into the UK by our suppliers and in accordance with all import controls.</li><li>By-products of legal and licensed hunts authorised by each individual Canadian Province and Territory.</li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge question first answered 09/02/2024 11:34:56 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1683011

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	King's Guards: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has taken recent steps to end the use of real bear fur for the King’s Guard’s caps.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	10148
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is open to considering the use of using human-made materials to replace natural fur items where they provide a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative. As such we are prepared to assess accredited testing results of material to establish whether a synthetic alternative could meet the Department’s requirements for a replacement bearskin cap material.</p><p> </p><p>However, to date, and to the Department’s knowledge, an alternative has yet to meet the standards required to provide an effective replacement for the bearskin ceremonial caps.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 10091 10149 10427 question first answered 25/01/2024 17:57:50 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1683012

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	King's Guards: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the development of faux fur bearskin hats for use in the military.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	10149
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is open to considering the use of using human-made materials to replace natural fur items where they provide a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative. As such we are prepared to assess accredited testing results of material to establish whether a synthetic alternative could meet the Department’s requirements for a replacement bearskin cap material.</p><p> </p><p>However, to date, and to the Department’s knowledge, an alternative has yet to meet the standards required to provide an effective replacement for the bearskin ceremonial caps.</p> answering member constituency South Suffolk answering member printed James Cartlidge grouped question UIN 10091 10148 10427 question first answered 25/01/2024 17:57:50 answering member 4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1458786

registered interest
date	20/04/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Nuclear Weapons
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what data his Department holds on whether the special weapons referred to in the US's 2023 Defense Budget request for infrastructure investment at a storage site in the UK will be B61-12 nuclear bombs.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	156494
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence is unable to comment on US spending decisions and capabilities, which are a matter for the US Government.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 25/04/2022 10:23:05 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1421922

registered interest
date	10/02/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Queen's Guards: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2021 to Question 85327, on Queen's Guards: Uniforms, what the five requirements for a faux fur to be considered a viable alternative to bearskin for the ceremonial caps for the Queen’s Guard are; and when he last provided those requirements to manufacturers or suppliers of faux fur.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	122700
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/02/2022 answer text <p>There is currently no faux fur alternatives that meet the required standard for the Queen’s Guards ceremonial caps. Bears are never hunted to order for use by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Our suppliers source pelts made available by the Canadian authorities following a licensed cull as part of a programme to manage the wild bear population.Where appropriate the MOD uses faux fur alternatives for ceremonial wear, providing they meet the specific user requirements.</p><p> </p><p>In order for an alternative fabric to be considered for use in the ceremonial caps, it would need successfully he performin the following five areas: water absorption, penetration, appearance, drying rate and compression. In addition to passing initial laboratory tests, any new fabric would have to gain user approval for shape and comfort for a parade length of duty. This would assess whether the fabric could maintain its shape over timeand whether it is comfortable and safe for the user. For example ensuring any waterproof backing is breathable and whether the alternative fabric is waterproof after the shaping, sewing and perforation during production . Consideration would also be given to its sustainability compared to the current natural fur fabric.</p><p> </p><p>There have been four synthetic furs tested since 2015. The artificial fur tested in 2018 failed in all five 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 areas. The most recent test results, provided by PETA, have also been analysed . The analysis concluded that the fabric only met one of the five basic requirements necessary to be considered as a viable alternative for ceremonial caps. While it met the basic standard for water penetration, it showed unacceptable rates of water shedding and performed poorly on the visual assessment. Results for the artificial fur’s drying rate and compression were not presented .</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 121824 121825 121826 121827 121828 question first answered 21/02/2022 13:27:19 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1421923

registered interest
date	10/02/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Queen's Guards: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2021 to Question 85327, on Queen's Guards: Uniforms, when he last met representatives of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to discuss the (a) faux fur developed by that organisation in association with ECOPEL and (b) requirements set by his Department for the use of faux fur in ceremonial caps for the Queen’s Guard.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	122701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2022 answer text <p>The Ministry of Defence publishes in arrears details of Ministers' meetings on a quarterly basis on https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-in-the-ministry-of-defence.</p><p> </p><p>The following details can be found in the returns:</p><p> </p><p>1) The date the Minister attended the meeting.</p><p>2) The name of the organisation or individuals who attended the meeting.</p><p>3) The purpose of the meeting.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 24/02/2022 11:47:52 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1421924

registered interest
date	10/02/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Queen's Guards: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2021 to Question 85327, on Queen's Guards: Uniforms, when his Department last conducted a procurement exercise for ceremonial caps for use by the Queen's Guard; and whether that exercise invited suppliers to offer faux fur as an alternative to real bearskin.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	122702
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2022 answer text <p>The most recent contract for the Queen’s Guards ceremonial caps commenced in August 2018. Suppliers were not invited to offer any alternative options as there are currently no faux fur alternatives that meet the Army’s requirements for these caps.</p><p> </p><p>In 2021, a new contract to supply The Kings Troop Busbys was placed. The Busby is a smaller and lighter cap than the Queen’s Guards ceremonial caps. The only requirement for the Busbys made from artificial fabric, is that the material has the appropriate weather resistance needed; for it to not change any of its colour characteristics when exposed to light and water.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 122703 question first answered 25/02/2022 12:58:14 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1421925

registered interest
date	10/02/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2021 to Question 87699, on Armed Forces: Uniforms, when his Department last conducted a procurement exercise for the faux fur busby hats worn by the King's Troop; and what requirements his Department has set for the faux fur used in the manufacture of those caps.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	122703
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2022 answer text <p>The most recent contract for the Queen’s Guards ceremonial caps commenced in August 2018. Suppliers were not invited to offer any alternative options as there are currently no faux fur alternatives that meet the Army’s requirements for these caps.</p><p> </p><p>In 2021, a new contract to supply The Kings Troop Busbys was placed. The Busby is a smaller and lighter cap than the Queen’s Guards ceremonial caps. The only requirement for the Busbys made from artificial fabric, is that the material has the appropriate weather resistance needed; for it to not change any of its colour characteristics when exposed to light and water.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 122702 question first answered 25/02/2022 12:58:14 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1421926

registered interest
date	10/02/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Queen's Guards: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that none of the bearskins used to make the ceremonial caps worn by the Queen’s Guard come from bears shot by trophy hunters.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	122704
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2022 answer text <p>I refer the Member to the answers I provided to Questions 118592 answered on 10 February 2022.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 122705 question first answered 25/02/2022 12:46:35 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin attachment 1 file name 118592 - Armed Forces Furs.docx title Armed Forces Fur
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1421931

registered interest
date	10/02/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Queen's Guards: Uniforms
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2021 to Question 85327 on Queen's Guards: Uniforms, what steps he is taking to ensure that procurement of ceremonial caps to be worn by the Queen’s Guard complies with the Government's Queen's Speech 2021 commitment that the UK will have and promote the highest standards of animal welfare.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	122705
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2022 answer text <p>I refer the Member to the answers I provided to Questions 118592 answered on 10 February 2022.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin grouped question UIN 122704 question first answered 25/02/2022 12:46:35 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin attachment 1 file name 118592 - Armed Forces Furs.docx title Armed Forces Fur
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald