HC Deb 15 December 2003 vol 415 c657W
Mr. Gordon Prentice:

To ask the Prime Minister how many honours have been returned since January 1997. [142220]

The Prime Minister:

Since 1 January 1997 18 people returned the honours they had been awarded to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood or to my office.

This compares with almost 18,500 honours granted to people during the same period.

Mr. Gordon Prentice:

To ask the Prime Minister how many people refused the offer of an honour in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by type of honour. [142221]

The Prime Minister:

Because of the confidential nature of the honours process individuals are asked in confidence whether they wish to be considered for an honour; it is a matter for them whether they wish to make their decision known publicly.

The number of people who refuse an honour has consistently been around 2 per cent. of the recommendations that are made each year.