§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hats available to the Guards Regiment have been made from real fur; from which508W animals they have been derived; and how many animals he estimates would have been killed to provide the fur used. [117835]
§ Mr. IngramThe only hat available to the Guards Regiments made from real fur is the ceremonial bearskin cap, which is made from the fur of the Black Bear. The Regiment currently holds 2,258 of these caps. It is not possible to accurately estimate the number of pelts used, as the number required for each cap varies; one bear pelt can make on average between one and two caps. A total of 1,396 caps have been procured over the last 10 years (1993 to 2002). Since 2001, a refurbishment programme has been in place designed to ensure that we reduce the requirement for new caps to a minimum. A total of 329 caps have been refurbished since this programme began.