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Written Question
Queen's Guards: Uniforms
Wednesday 22nd June 2022

Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of tests conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in April 2022 on the drying rate and compression properties of faux bear fur for the ceremonial caps worn by the Queen’s Guard; whether those results meet Ministry of Defence requirements; and if so, whether they will now consider introducing faux fur for ceremonial caps.

Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)

We are aware that there may have been further testing conducted on this artificial fur in April 2022, however the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and its business partner Leidos are not parties to this research and cannot therefore comment on these test results.

Previous analysis of testing conducted on the faux fur fabric showed it met only one of the five requirements necessary to be considered as a viable alternative for ceremonial caps. Whilst it met the basic standard for water absorption, it showed unacceptable rates of water shedding and performed poorly on the visual assessment. As the artificial fur didn't meet the standards required for a ceremonial cap which is worn throughout the year and in all weathers, the MOD has no plans to take this fake fur fabric forward.

Written Question
Queen's Guards: Uniforms
Tuesday 24th May 2022

Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to fulfil their commitment to switch to faux fur for the ceremonial caps worn by the Queen’s Guard now that a suitable faux fur is available.

Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)

I refer the noble Lady to the answer my Hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Jeremy Quin) gave to Question 121824 on 21 February 2022 in the House of Commons.

Written Question
Queen's Guards: Uniforms
Monday 23rd May 2022

Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, given that a suitable replacement for bearskin has been developed that meets all of their "five requirements", what steps they are taking to introduce a faux fur for the ceremonial caps worn by the Queen’s Guard.

Answered by Baroness Goldie - Shadow Minister (Defence)

I refer the noble Lady to the answer my Hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Jeremy Quin) gave to Question 121824 on 21 February 2022 in the House of Commons

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 14 Oct 2021
Royal Navy: Ships and Frigates

"My Lords, defence of the realm is obviously incredibly important, but so is defence of the planet. Yet the MoD is exempt from the duties that all the rest of us have to fulfil of cutting carbon emissions. These vessels will be highly polluting. Does the Ministry of Defence know …..."
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb - View Speech

View all Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Royal Navy: Ships and Frigates
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 09 Mar 2021
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill

"My Lords, before I start my remarks about the Bill, I would like to say that nothing I say over the next few days in any way impugns the integrity of the Minister. I have every respect for her, but I think that the Bill is a terrible piece of …..."
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb - View Speech

View all Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 09 Mar 2021
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill

"My Lords, that was quite interesting, actually, because of course these amendments are trying to create some sort of accountability for the Attorney-General. I thought the noble Lord, Lord Faulks, was going to say something about the Attorney-General being rather more political than in the past, because of course the …..."
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb - View Speech

View all Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 09 Mar 2021
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill

"My Lords, it is very unusual for a Green to be among the majority. I will take great delight in that.

I cannot compete with the erudition and rationale of noble Lords who have spoken already, but I will draw attention to the fact that the Government are trying to …..."
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb - View Speech

View all Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 20 Jan 2021
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill

"My Lords, with every Bill this Government present to this House, we see a further erosion of civil liberties, the rule of law reduced and, of course, a constant attack on parliamentary democracy—and this Bill is no different. It is pretty terrible. I am really heartened to have listened to …..."
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb - View Speech

View all Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 22 Jul 2019
Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill

"My Lords, I support all the amendments in this group and some of the later ones, particularly those in the names of the noble Lords, Lord Blunkett and Lord Bethell, and the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Basildon. I was sad that I was not able to take part in …..."
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb - View Speech

View all Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 03 Dec 2018
Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill

"..."
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb - View Speech

View all Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill