Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have declined an appointment to each Order of the British Empire award in each of the last five years.
It has always been the case that a small number of individuals have chosen to decline to receive honours.
The numbers of refusals for the Order of the British Empire broken down by award and honours round in the last five years for the Prime Minister's Lists can be found below. Figures for the British Empire Medal have been included as the award is closely affiliated with the Order of the British Empire.
As the figures show, refusal rates for honours remain extremely low. Individuals are not required to give reasons for refusing honours.
| GBE | Kt | DBE | CBE | OBE | MBE | BEM | Total |
NY16 | - | - | 1 | - | 3 | 6 | 2 | 12 |
BD16 | - | - | - | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 22 |
NY17 | - | 2 | - | 5 | 6 | 13 | 8 | 34 |
BD17 | - | - | - | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
NY18 | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 24 |
BD18 | - | - | 1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 26 |
NY19 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 26 |
BD19 | - | - | - | 3 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 23 |
NY20 | 1 | - | - | - | 5 | 7 | 11 | 24 |
BD20 | - | - | - | 3 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 43 |