HC Deb 27 April 1959 vol 604 cc869-71
2. Mr. Moyle

asked the Minister of Supply the cost of providing 1,500 new bearskins for the Guards; and how many of the skins required for this purpose have been ordered from Canada.

6. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Minister of Supply what arrangements he has made to obtain supplies of bearskins from Canada.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (Mr. W. J. Taylor)

It is not in accordance with normal practice to reveal the prices being paid or likely to be paid for individual items of supply. As it is the current practice of the Ministry of Supply to buy bearskin caps complete, leaving the manufacturer to procure the skin and any other materials, we have no skins on order from Canada or elsewhere. We are, however, as my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War said on 22nd April, investigating the offer made by the Mayor of Timmins to the Brigade of Guards.

Mr. Moyle

Will the Parliamentary Secretary and his right hon. Friend prevent the use of the Department's time in such a futile transaction which leads to no better result than the killing of bears to provide bearskins for the Guards? Since the Minister himself is present, will he not consult the Commander-in-Chief of the Guards and inform him that the Worcesters and the Royal Welch have achieved the highest peaks of military fame without the aid of even a rabbit skin?

Mr. Taylor

The request to my right hon. Friend from his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War to investigate the offer by the Mayor of Timmins was a normal request to the Department responsible for the supply of this kind of store. With regard to the latter part of the question, I am not responsible for the War Office, and I doubt whether my right hon. Friend would feel any different than I.

Mr. Thomson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that ladies now wear fur coats made of nylon? Why on earth cannot the Guards wear bearskins made of nylon?

Mr. Taylor

I understand that the development of a suitable form of nylon fur for this kind of purpose is being investigated. There are, however, a number of difficult manufacturing problems which have still to be overcome before any positive conclusion can be reached.

Sir R. Cary

Is my hon. Friend aware that, in the past, Russia has often supplied skins for this purpose and, whilst in no way decrying the Canadian offer, there are other sources of supply which may make it quite unnecessary to embark upon a massacre of 500 bears in Canada?

Mr. Taylor

I have made inquiries of the manufacturers about their source for fur, and I understand that they go to the London Fur Market. The country of origin of bearskins today is, I understand, principally Russia, although a number of skins were bought from Canada before the war. Concerning the latter part of the question, I was merely asked to investigate the matter from the standpoint of supply and of some of the other technical aspects involved.