if you view source of the search form, the value of the region seelct list is stil using the numeric values, not the strings:
<select name="region" class="dropBox">
<option value="">All</option>
<option value="1">England: East</option>
<option value="2">England: East Midlands</option>
<option value="3">England: London</option>
<option value="4">England: North East</option>
<option value="5">England: North West</option>
<option value="6">England: South East</option>
<option value="7">England: South West</option>
<option value="8">England: West Midlands</option>
<option value="9">England: Yorkshire and the Humber</option>
<option value="21">National</option>
<option value="10">Northern Ireland</option>
<option value="11">Scotland: Central</option>
<option value="12">Scotland: Highlands and Islands</option>
<option value="13">Scotland: North East</option>
<option value="14">Scotland: South East</option>
<option value="15">Scotland: South West</option>
<option value="16">Scotland: West</option>
<option value="17">Wales: Mid</option>
<option value="18">Wales: North</option>
<option value="19">Wales: South East</option>
<option value="20">Wales: South West</option>
</select>
you will need to edit the select list so that the value uses the same column as the label.