Ludlow MP bears up to quiz over ceremonial cap
It's not a question Shropshire MP Philip Dunne has been asked many times in his political career.
But it is an occupational hazard when you are a Minister for Defence Procurement.
The question: Is real bearskin still used in the making of bearskin hats?
And the controversial answer is: Yes – because synthetic bearskin doesn't come up to scratch.
Mr Dunne also told Parliament that almost £1 million was spent on real bearskin worn by soldiers in the past eight years.
The Ludlow MP revealed that real bear fur is still used to make the iconic military hats of the kind worn by the Grenadier Guards.
Speaking in response to a written question by Alex Cunningham, shadow minister for environment, food and rural affairs, Mr Dunne revealed synthetic fur had been tried, but was not good enough, although research was still going on.
The current real fur hats are sourced from Canada, made from the pelts of wild bears culled as part of the nation's wildlife management programme, but the treatment of bears killed in the cull was a matter for the Canadian government, Mr Dunne said.
Mr Cunningham asked: "What assessment he has made of the prevailing animal welfare standards of the bear cull in Canada that provides pelts for the making of bearskins and other associated headgear containing real fur by use by the British armed forces?"
Mr Dunne replied: "The Ministry of Defence does not buy bear pelts, it buys ceremonial caps direct from suppliers who source pelts from animals culled as part of a programme to manage the wild population licensed by the Canadian government.
"Animal welfare standards relating to the bear cull are a matter for the Canadian government.
"The MoD also purchases coney skin (rabbit fur) for the Royal Engineers' and Royal Signals' busby and fox fur for the Royal Horse Artillery, Kings Troop Officers' busby.
"The current contract requires a commitment to sustainable procurement.
"Historically the MoD has undertaken a number of trials on synthetic alternatives to bearskin but none of these matched the properties of the natural material.
"No trialling has taken place since 2007."
