Question to the Ministry of Defence:

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.

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.

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.