Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made by the Royal Navy in redesigning uniform and any relevant body or safety protection apparel to fit the anatomy of women.

The Royal Navy daily working uniform for Service Women (Rig 22) is currently in the procurement phase. To alleviate any issues during this time, Service personnel have been recommended to utilise the Special Fit clause in current regulations to allow Crown Expense tailoring where current sizes don’t quite fit adequately.

The Rig 22 thermal layer includes a female fit, with both jackets having been very well received during trials. A full maternity variant of Rig 22 is in the procurement phase, while a maternity outwear layer is already available.

The Royal Navy is also seeking to improve the current in-service base-layer for both warm weather, temperate and cold weather climates. This project will include such considerations as Public Sector Equality Duty, ensuring a better fit for all, as well as improving comfort/interoperability with the Rig 22 layering system.