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Written Question
Fire Stations: South West
Tuesday 27th January 2026

Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service in advance of their station closure consultation.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Decisions on how fire and rescue services are run, including the number and locations of fire stations or crewing numbers, are for the local fire and rescue authority (FRA) and its Chief Fire Officer. The FRA is responsible for ensuring the needs and demands of their local community are met. They are responsible for directing their resources where they are needed most and in accordance with their Community Risk Management Plans (CRMPs).

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)’s latest published statistics on fire and rescue service (FRS) workforce numbers say that while the full time equivalent (FTE) number of firefighters has reduced by 0.5%, the total number of FRS staff (FTE) has increased by 0.6% on the previous year.


Written Question
Rugby: South West
Friday 23rd January 2026

Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment his Department has made on the financial pressures on grassroots rugby clubs in the South West.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to and can benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities, including rugby. We are also committed to supporting the financial sustainability of rugby clubs, and ensuring this translates into tangible outcomes that span grassroots participation through to elite performance.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year.

Sport England provides long term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Football Union and £15.7 million to the Rugby Football League between 2022 and 2029, the National Governing Bodies for rugby to support grassroots participation.

Since summer 2024, the Government has also provided £6.7 million into the Women’s Rugby World Cup Legacy Programme Impact 25 which has benefited 850 clubs across the country. These clubs have received investment which goes towards supporting girls of all ages to get involved in rugby.


Written Question
Honours: South Yorkshire
Thursday 22nd January 2026

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many honours above OBE level were awarded to people who were (1) living in, or (2) working in or providing service to, the South Yorkshire area at the time of their nomination for an honour in the New Years Honours 2026 list.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of all 1157 recipients for the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients.

Data is collected using city/town and county, then aggregated into regional figures at the time that the recipients were sounded for an award, not when they were originally nominated. There were 14 individuals who noted their location as South Yorkshire in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 List, 2 of which were above OBE level. There were 0 individuals who noted their location as Sheffield.

Information on the number of nominations by mayoral authority in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way. However, of those who listed their location as South Yorkshire, 3 individuals received an award above MBE level.

42 recipients of honours in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 have received honours in previous lists.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists, is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

There are currently 62 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded, therefore current address data for recipients prior to the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 round is not held. There were no recipients of the Companion of Honour on the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.

Region

BEM

BEM%

MBE

MBE%

OBE

OBE%

CBE & Higher

CBE & higher%

Total

% of the total NY26 list living in each region

% of UK population

East

28

8.8%

36

7.4%

21

9.4%

11

8.7%

96

8.3%

9.5%

East Midlands

12

3.8%

22

4.5%

9

4.0%

7

5.5%

50

4.3%

7.3%

London

28

8.8%

89

18.2%

58

25.9%

42

33.1%

217

18.8%

13.0%

North East

9

2.8%

14

2.9%

6

2.7%

1

0.8%

30

2.6%

4.0%

North West

31

9.8%

44

9.0%

17

7.6%

5

3.9%

97

8.4%

11.0%

Northern Ireland

20

6.3%

25

5.1%

6

2.7%

4

3.1%

55

4.8%

2.8%

Scotland

25

7.9%

56

11.5%

22

9.8%

11

8.7%

114

9.9%

8.0%

South East

47

14.8%

54

11.0%

41

18.3%

22

17.3%

164

14.2%

14.0%

South West

34

10.7%

37

7.6%

15

6.7%

11

8.7%

97

8.4%

8.5%

Wales

18

5.7%

38

7.8%

8

3.6%

3

2.4%

67

5.8%

4.6%

West Midlands

38

12.0%

33

6.7%

9

4.0%

1

0.8%

81

7.0%

8.9%

Yorkshire & Humberside

27

8.5%

39

8.0%

10

4.5%

8

6.3%

84

7.3%

8.2%

Living abroad

0

0.0%

2

0.4%

2

0.9%

1

0.8%

5

0.4%

-

Total

317

100%

489

100%

224

100%

127

100%

1157

100%

-


Written Question
Honours: Sheffield
Thursday 22nd January 2026

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many honours above OBE level were awarded to people who were (1) living in, or (2) working in or providing service to, the Sheffield City Region at the time of their nomination for an honour in the New Year Honours 2026 list.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of all 1157 recipients for the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients.

Data is collected using city/town and county, then aggregated into regional figures at the time that the recipients were sounded for an award, not when they were originally nominated. There were 14 individuals who noted their location as South Yorkshire in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 List, 2 of which were above OBE level. There were 0 individuals who noted their location as Sheffield.

Information on the number of nominations by mayoral authority in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way. However, of those who listed their location as South Yorkshire, 3 individuals received an award above MBE level.

42 recipients of honours in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 have received honours in previous lists.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists, is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

There are currently 62 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded, therefore current address data for recipients prior to the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 round is not held. There were no recipients of the Companion of Honour on the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.

Region

BEM

BEM%

MBE

MBE%

OBE

OBE%

CBE & Higher

CBE & higher%

Total

% of the total NY26 list living in each region

% of UK population

East

28

8.8%

36

7.4%

21

9.4%

11

8.7%

96

8.3%

9.5%

East Midlands

12

3.8%

22

4.5%

9

4.0%

7

5.5%

50

4.3%

7.3%

London

28

8.8%

89

18.2%

58

25.9%

42

33.1%

217

18.8%

13.0%

North East

9

2.8%

14

2.9%

6

2.7%

1

0.8%

30

2.6%

4.0%

North West

31

9.8%

44

9.0%

17

7.6%

5

3.9%

97

8.4%

11.0%

Northern Ireland

20

6.3%

25

5.1%

6

2.7%

4

3.1%

55

4.8%

2.8%

Scotland

25

7.9%

56

11.5%

22

9.8%

11

8.7%

114

9.9%

8.0%

South East

47

14.8%

54

11.0%

41

18.3%

22

17.3%

164

14.2%

14.0%

South West

34

10.7%

37

7.6%

15

6.7%

11

8.7%

97

8.4%

8.5%

Wales

18

5.7%

38

7.8%

8

3.6%

3

2.4%

67

5.8%

4.6%

West Midlands

38

12.0%

33

6.7%

9

4.0%

1

0.8%

81

7.0%

8.9%

Yorkshire & Humberside

27

8.5%

39

8.0%

10

4.5%

8

6.3%

84

7.3%

8.2%

Living abroad

0

0.0%

2

0.4%

2

0.9%

1

0.8%

5

0.4%

-

Total

317

100%

489

100%

224

100%

127

100%

1157

100%

-


Written Question
Honours: South Yorkshire
Thursday 22nd January 2026

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many residents of the combined Mayoral authority of South Yorkshire received an award above the level of MBE in the New Year Honours 2026 list.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of all 1157 recipients for the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients.

Data is collected using city/town and county, then aggregated into regional figures at the time that the recipients were sounded for an award, not when they were originally nominated. There were 14 individuals who noted their location as South Yorkshire in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 List, 2 of which were above OBE level. There were 0 individuals who noted their location as Sheffield.

Information on the number of nominations by mayoral authority in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way. However, of those who listed their location as South Yorkshire, 3 individuals received an award above MBE level.

42 recipients of honours in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 have received honours in previous lists.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists, is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

There are currently 62 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded, therefore current address data for recipients prior to the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 round is not held. There were no recipients of the Companion of Honour on the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.

Region

BEM

BEM%

MBE

MBE%

OBE

OBE%

CBE & Higher

CBE & higher%

Total

% of the total NY26 list living in each region

% of UK population

East

28

8.8%

36

7.4%

21

9.4%

11

8.7%

96

8.3%

9.5%

East Midlands

12

3.8%

22

4.5%

9

4.0%

7

5.5%

50

4.3%

7.3%

London

28

8.8%

89

18.2%

58

25.9%

42

33.1%

217

18.8%

13.0%

North East

9

2.8%

14

2.9%

6

2.7%

1

0.8%

30

2.6%

4.0%

North West

31

9.8%

44

9.0%

17

7.6%

5

3.9%

97

8.4%

11.0%

Northern Ireland

20

6.3%

25

5.1%

6

2.7%

4

3.1%

55

4.8%

2.8%

Scotland

25

7.9%

56

11.5%

22

9.8%

11

8.7%

114

9.9%

8.0%

South East

47

14.8%

54

11.0%

41

18.3%

22

17.3%

164

14.2%

14.0%

South West

34

10.7%

37

7.6%

15

6.7%

11

8.7%

97

8.4%

8.5%

Wales

18

5.7%

38

7.8%

8

3.6%

3

2.4%

67

5.8%

4.6%

West Midlands

38

12.0%

33

6.7%

9

4.0%

1

0.8%

81

7.0%

8.9%

Yorkshire & Humberside

27

8.5%

39

8.0%

10

4.5%

8

6.3%

84

7.3%

8.2%

Living abroad

0

0.0%

2

0.4%

2

0.9%

1

0.8%

5

0.4%

-

Total

317

100%

489

100%

224

100%

127

100%

1157

100%

-


Written Question
Honours
Thursday 22nd January 2026

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the recipients of honours in the New Year Honours List 2026 have already received recognition in previous honours lists.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of all 1157 recipients for the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients.

Data is collected using city/town and county, then aggregated into regional figures at the time that the recipients were sounded for an award, not when they were originally nominated. There were 14 individuals who noted their location as South Yorkshire in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 List, 2 of which were above OBE level. There were 0 individuals who noted their location as Sheffield.

Information on the number of nominations by mayoral authority in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way. However, of those who listed their location as South Yorkshire, 3 individuals received an award above MBE level.

42 recipients of honours in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 have received honours in previous lists.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists, is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

There are currently 62 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded, therefore current address data for recipients prior to the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 round is not held. There were no recipients of the Companion of Honour on the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.

Region

BEM

BEM%

MBE

MBE%

OBE

OBE%

CBE & Higher

CBE & higher%

Total

% of the total NY26 list living in each region

% of UK population

East

28

8.8%

36

7.4%

21

9.4%

11

8.7%

96

8.3%

9.5%

East Midlands

12

3.8%

22

4.5%

9

4.0%

7

5.5%

50

4.3%

7.3%

London

28

8.8%

89

18.2%

58

25.9%

42

33.1%

217

18.8%

13.0%

North East

9

2.8%

14

2.9%

6

2.7%

1

0.8%

30

2.6%

4.0%

North West

31

9.8%

44

9.0%

17

7.6%

5

3.9%

97

8.4%

11.0%

Northern Ireland

20

6.3%

25

5.1%

6

2.7%

4

3.1%

55

4.8%

2.8%

Scotland

25

7.9%

56

11.5%

22

9.8%

11

8.7%

114

9.9%

8.0%

South East

47

14.8%

54

11.0%

41

18.3%

22

17.3%

164

14.2%

14.0%

South West

34

10.7%

37

7.6%

15

6.7%

11

8.7%

97

8.4%

8.5%

Wales

18

5.7%

38

7.8%

8

3.6%

3

2.4%

67

5.8%

4.6%

West Midlands

38

12.0%

33

6.7%

9

4.0%

1

0.8%

81

7.0%

8.9%

Yorkshire & Humberside

27

8.5%

39

8.0%

10

4.5%

8

6.3%

84

7.3%

8.2%

Living abroad

0

0.0%

2

0.4%

2

0.9%

1

0.8%

5

0.4%

-

Total

317

100%

489

100%

224

100%

127

100%

1157

100%

-


Written Question
Honours
Thursday 22nd January 2026

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the geographical locations where living recipients of Companions of Honour reside, where known.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of all 1157 recipients for the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients.

Data is collected using city/town and county, then aggregated into regional figures at the time that the recipients were sounded for an award, not when they were originally nominated. There were 14 individuals who noted their location as South Yorkshire in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 List, 2 of which were above OBE level. There were 0 individuals who noted their location as Sheffield.

Information on the number of nominations by mayoral authority in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way. However, of those who listed their location as South Yorkshire, 3 individuals received an award above MBE level.

42 recipients of honours in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 have received honours in previous lists.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists, is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

There are currently 62 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded, therefore current address data for recipients prior to the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 round is not held. There were no recipients of the Companion of Honour on the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.

Region

BEM

BEM%

MBE

MBE%

OBE

OBE%

CBE & Higher

CBE & higher%

Total

% of the total NY26 list living in each region

% of UK population

East

28

8.8%

36

7.4%

21

9.4%

11

8.7%

96

8.3%

9.5%

East Midlands

12

3.8%

22

4.5%

9

4.0%

7

5.5%

50

4.3%

7.3%

London

28

8.8%

89

18.2%

58

25.9%

42

33.1%

217

18.8%

13.0%

North East

9

2.8%

14

2.9%

6

2.7%

1

0.8%

30

2.6%

4.0%

North West

31

9.8%

44

9.0%

17

7.6%

5

3.9%

97

8.4%

11.0%

Northern Ireland

20

6.3%

25

5.1%

6

2.7%

4

3.1%

55

4.8%

2.8%

Scotland

25

7.9%

56

11.5%

22

9.8%

11

8.7%

114

9.9%

8.0%

South East

47

14.8%

54

11.0%

41

18.3%

22

17.3%

164

14.2%

14.0%

South West

34

10.7%

37

7.6%

15

6.7%

11

8.7%

97

8.4%

8.5%

Wales

18

5.7%

38

7.8%

8

3.6%

3

2.4%

67

5.8%

4.6%

West Midlands

38

12.0%

33

6.7%

9

4.0%

1

0.8%

81

7.0%

8.9%

Yorkshire & Humberside

27

8.5%

39

8.0%

10

4.5%

8

6.3%

84

7.3%

8.2%

Living abroad

0

0.0%

2

0.4%

2

0.9%

1

0.8%

5

0.4%

-

Total

317

100%

489

100%

224

100%

127

100%

1157

100%

-


Written Question
Honours
Thursday 22nd January 2026

Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many honours, by each award level, were received in each (1) region, and (2) nation of the UK in the New Year Honours 2026; and what percentage of the population of each such (1) region, and (2) nation that number represents.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of all 1157 recipients for the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients.

Data is collected using city/town and county, then aggregated into regional figures at the time that the recipients were sounded for an award, not when they were originally nominated. There were 14 individuals who noted their location as South Yorkshire in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 List, 2 of which were above OBE level. There were 0 individuals who noted their location as Sheffield.

Information on the number of nominations by mayoral authority in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way. However, of those who listed their location as South Yorkshire, 3 individuals received an award above MBE level.

42 recipients of honours in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 have received honours in previous lists.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists, is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

There are currently 62 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded, therefore current address data for recipients prior to the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 round is not held. There were no recipients of the Companion of Honour on the King’s New Year Honours List 2026.

Region

BEM

BEM%

MBE

MBE%

OBE

OBE%

CBE & Higher

CBE & higher%

Total

% of the total NY26 list living in each region

% of UK population

East

28

8.8%

36

7.4%

21

9.4%

11

8.7%

96

8.3%

9.5%

East Midlands

12

3.8%

22

4.5%

9

4.0%

7

5.5%

50

4.3%

7.3%

London

28

8.8%

89

18.2%

58

25.9%

42

33.1%

217

18.8%

13.0%

North East

9

2.8%

14

2.9%

6

2.7%

1

0.8%

30

2.6%

4.0%

North West

31

9.8%

44

9.0%

17

7.6%

5

3.9%

97

8.4%

11.0%

Northern Ireland

20

6.3%

25

5.1%

6

2.7%

4

3.1%

55

4.8%

2.8%

Scotland

25

7.9%

56

11.5%

22

9.8%

11

8.7%

114

9.9%

8.0%

South East

47

14.8%

54

11.0%

41

18.3%

22

17.3%

164

14.2%

14.0%

South West

34

10.7%

37

7.6%

15

6.7%

11

8.7%

97

8.4%

8.5%

Wales

18

5.7%

38

7.8%

8

3.6%

3

2.4%

67

5.8%

4.6%

West Midlands

38

12.0%

33

6.7%

9

4.0%

1

0.8%

81

7.0%

8.9%

Yorkshire & Humberside

27

8.5%

39

8.0%

10

4.5%

8

6.3%

84

7.3%

8.2%

Living abroad

0

0.0%

2

0.4%

2

0.9%

1

0.8%

5

0.4%

-

Total

317

100%

489

100%

224

100%

127

100%

1157

100%

-


Written Question
Crown Prosecution Service: Vacancies
Wednesday 21st January 2026

Asked by: Neil Shastri-Hurst (Conservative - Solihull West and Shirley)

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January to Question 103029, on Crown Prosecution Service: Vacancies, how the vacancy rate for Crown Prosecutors as of the end of December 2025 compares the preceding five years, broken down by region.

Answered by Ellie Reeves - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

The overall vacancy rate for ‘Crown Prosecutors’ across the 14 regional, geographic areas that make up the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is 4.5% (at the end of December 2025). The table below includes the regional breakdown for CPS vacancy rates applicable to these legal roles for December 2025 against the three preceding years only*.

Area

Dec-22

Dec-23

Dec-24

Dec-25

Cymru Wales

10.3%

6.0%

2.4%

7.0%

East of England

10.7%

6.0%

6.1%

3.9%

East Midlands

14.9%

8.8%

4.0%

8.6%

London North

1.5%

0.4%

0.9%

9.0%

London South

6.1%

4.7%

0.4%

-3.9%

Mersey Cheshire

5.4%

9.5%

-0.9%

2.6%

North East

12.1%

5.2%

6.1%

15.4%

North West

10.2%

1.7%

5.7%

-3.4%

South East

4.5%

1.8%

-1.2%

3.8%

South West

7.7%

14.1%

0.7%

-0.1%

Thames and Chiltern

7.5%

8.8%

7.4%

11.5%

Wessex

10.0%

5.5%

4.8%

1.3%

West Midlands

17.2%

7.3%

1.4%

6.9%

Yorkshire and Humberside

12.8%

5.0%

4.7%

4.0%

14 Geographic Areas

9.5%

5.6%

3.0%

4.5%

*The CPS does not hold information on vacancy rates dating back five years and has therefore provided the three years preceding December 2025 only.


Written Question
South Wales Main Line: Electrification
Wednesday 21st January 2026

Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions she had with the Welsh Rail Board on the electrification of the Cardiff - Swansea section of the South Wales Mainline.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Rail Minister has regular discussions with the Wales Rail Board regarding their priorities for investment, including future electrification between Swansea and Cardiff. Our initial joint priorities involve improvements on the South Wales Mainline which will deliver more immediate passenger benefits, including increasing the frequency of services to the west of Cardiff. Following the Spending Review, we are funding these improvement works as part of the wider £445 million investment to enhance rail infrastructure across Wales — unlocking economic potential, improving connectivity, and supporting communities.