Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans to identify alternatives to the bearskins worn by the Household Division's Regiments of the Foot Guards.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to the use of human-made materials to replace natural fur items where they provide a suitable, safe, affordable, and sustainable alternative. Therefore, the Department is open to considering faux fur alternatives that meet the required criteria through accredited testing results, particularly given the public interest in this area.

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.