Post Office and Horizon
Business and Trade Committee
Closed
Inquiry
This inquiry explores issues emerging from the Horizon IT Court cases, looking at the impact on sub-postmasters and its effect on the future viability of the Post Office, and examining the lessons the Government and Post Office Ltd have learned from a scandal which saw hundreds of sub-postmasters accused of …
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20
Recommendations
9
Conclusions
1
Report
4
Oral sessions
15
Letters
4
Events
Activity timeline 21 events
27 Apr
2022
2022
22 Feb
2022
2022
17 Feb
2022
2022
9 Feb
2022
2022
11 Jan
2022
2022
Oral evidence
14 Dec
2021
2021
Oral evidence
8 Sep
2021
2021
26 May
2021
2021
29 Apr
2021
2021
22 Oct
2020
2020
7 Oct
2020
2020
25 Jun
2020
2020
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
11 Jan 2022
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Post Office
Carl Creswell · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Nick Read · Post Office Ltd
Paul Scully · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Tom Cooper · Post Office Ltd
14 Dec 2021
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Oral evidence session
Alan Bates, former Sub-postmaster · Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance
Dr Neil Hudgell · Hudgell Solicitors
Jo Hamilton - Former Sub-postmaster
Paul Harry - Former Sub-postmaster
24 Mar 2020
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Carl Creswell · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Nick Read · Post Office Ltd
Paula Vennells CBE · Post Office
Paul Scully · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Rob Putland · Fujitsu
Tom Cooper · Post Office Ltd
10 Mar 2020
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Post Office and Horizon
Alan Bates, former Sub-postmaster · Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance
Andy Furey · Communication Workers Union
Calum Greenhow · National Federation of SubPostmasters
Ian Henderson · Second Sight Forensic Accountants
Ron Warmington · Second Sight Forensic Accountants
Tracy Felstead, former Sub-postmaster
Wendy Buffrey, former Sub-postmaster
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eighth Report - Post Office and Horizon - Compensation: interim… | HC 1129 | 17 Feb 2022 | 29 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
14 results
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We are deeply disappointed that the 555 group action litigants, who took the Post Office...
We are deeply disappointed that the 555 group action litigants, who took the Post Office Ltd. (POL) to court and who exposed the Horizon scandal, should be worse off than other victims of Horizon who would otherwise not be in …
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Government Response
The government will make funding available to ensure postmasters who took part in the Group Litigation Order (GLO) case are not financially disadvantaged by their decision to litigate against the Post Office. They will be able to access similar compensation to that available to their non-GLO peers.
Department for Business and Trade
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2
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We demand that the Government as a matter of urgency commit to ensuring that the...
We demand that the Government as a matter of urgency commit to ensuring that the 555 are fully compensated for all of their losses on the same basis as other victims of this scandal receiving compensation. (Paragraph 17) Prosecuted Sub-postmasters …
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Government Response
The government states it acted by announcing funding to ensure GLO postmasters are not financially disadvantaged, will have similar compensation to non-GLO peers, and is consulting on delivery.
Department for Business and Trade
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6
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We recommend that the Government provides monthly updates on the number of interim payments made,...
We recommend that the Government provides monthly updates on the number of interim payments made, the number of final payments made, and the range of Post Office and Horizon - Compensationn interim report 23 amounts paid out to reach full, …
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Government Response
The government agreed with the Post Office that it will publish monthly updates on the number of interim payments made and the number of final payments made on its website, and share the latest management information data with the Select Committee each month to enable the Committee to continue to track progress, subject to caveats regarding privacy.
Department for Business and Trade
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7
Conclusion
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We are concerned that some sub-postmasters have been denied interim compensation payments despite having had...
We are concerned that some sub-postmasters have been denied interim compensation payments despite having had their convictions overturned. The Post Office Ltd. (POL) and the Minister noted that this is because the reliability of Horizon evidence is not central to …
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Government Response
The government states that interim compensation payments are available if specific criteria are met and that three claims have been declined because Horizon evidence was not essential to the prosecution.
Department for Business and Trade
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9
Conclusion
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We are concerned that a firm involved with the discredited HBOS Reading scandal is involved...
We are concerned that a firm involved with the discredited HBOS Reading scandal is involved with the Historical Shortfall Scheme, and that the Post Office Ltd. (POL) CEO was unaware of the issues surrounding the HBOS compensation scheme. Though Herbert …
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Government Response
The government claims the Historical Shortfall Scheme differs from the HBOS Reading Scheme because consequential losses are in scope, there are opportunities to appeal, and there is an independent advisory panel.
Department for Business and Trade
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10
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
In responding to this report, we expect the Government to explain how the Historic Shortfall...
In responding to this report, we expect the Government to explain how the Historic Shortfall Scheme differs from the HBOS Reading scheme and what safeguards have been built in to avoid the problems that the latter scheme experienced.
Government Response
The government claims the Historical Shortfall Scheme differs from the HBOS Reading Scheme because consequential losses are in scope, there are opportunities to appeal, and there is an independent advisory panel.
Department for Business and Trade
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11
Conclusion
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
Offers to claimants should only be full and final where claimants have received independent advice...
Offers to claimants should only be full and final where claimants have received independent advice and have exhausted their rights to recourse to the Historical Shortfall Scheme’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process. We ask the Government to seek clarity from …
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Government Response
The government explains that postmasters waive no rights by joining the Scheme and settlement is full and final only if the offer is accepted, outlines the Scheme's process in its Terms of Reference, and clarifies that claimants are reminded to seek independent legal advice.
Department for Business and Trade
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17
Conclusion
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
The involvement of POL in any part of the Scheme is questionable because of the...
The involvement of POL in any part of the Scheme is questionable because of the history of the Horizon scandal. It is worth remembering that a key criticism made of POL at the height of the scandal was that effectively …
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Government Response
The government states it acted by announcing funding to ensure GLO postmasters are not financially disadvantaged, will have similar compensation to non-GLO peers, and is consulting on delivery.
Department for Business and Trade
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21
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We recommend that the Government ask POL to set out and share stretching monthly targets...
We recommend that the Government ask POL to set out and share stretching monthly targets and outturns on how the backlog of claims is being addressed. We also recommend that BEIS and UKGI in their oversight role give monthly updates …
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Government Response
The government highlights the Post Office's increased capacity and targets for initial offers, including Minister Scully's ambition and Nick Read's commitment and states that while it agrees to provide updates on actions taken to ensure targets are agreed and met, it proposes doing so on a quarterly rather than monthly basis.
Department for Business and Trade
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22
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
It is worrying to hear that many of the claims awarded so far may be...
It is worrying to hear that many of the claims awarded so far may be towards the low end of the compensation scale. To dispel any fears that Horizon victims are not being compensated fairly we recommend that the Government …
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Government Response
The government has committed to publishing information showing the spread of average claims paid out so far with a commitment to sharing such details going forward to ensure transparency and trust in the Scheme. BEIS oversight of the appropriateness of offers made to claimants takes place through approval of the Case Assessment Principles, the weekly case review process and consideration by a Director-led Steering Committee.
Department for Business and Trade
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24
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We recommend that POL shares details, with relevant examples, of how it takes the absence...
We recommend that POL shares details, with relevant examples, of how it takes the absence of information into account when it makes its initial recommendations for claims and how the Independent Panel reflects on such cases. We recommend that POL …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges challenges in evidencing claims due to lack of records and describes the Scheme's design to address this, including classifying unquantified claims and involving an Independent Advisory Panel. It also details the number of 'no award' claims and rejected offers.
Department for Business and Trade
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25
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We ask the Government to confirm that the burden of proof should not rest solely...
We ask the Government to confirm that the burden of proof should not rest solely with the claimant, not least because POL itself hasn’t kept appropriate records, including itemisation of which postmasters paid what amounts to individual suspense accounts. The …
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Government Response
The government accepts that the burden of proof should not rest solely with the claimant in the Historical Shortfall Scheme and that claims may be accepted even with evidential uncertainty if considered fair in all the circumstances.
Department for Business and Trade
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26
Conclusion
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
It is deeply troubling, given the historical nature of Horizon, its complexity as a flawed...
It is deeply troubling, given the historical nature of Horizon, its complexity as a flawed IT system and in many cases a lack of records, that some claimants seem 26 Post Office and Horizon - Compensationn interim report to be …
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Government Response
The government has agreed with the Post Office to publish information on its website regarding interim payments and provide monthly management information to the Select Committee, but will delay publication of final settlement ranges to protect claimant privacy.
Department for Business and Trade
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29
Recommendation
Accepted
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We look forward to receiving estimates from BEIS of the total expected cost of the...
We look forward to receiving estimates from BEIS of the total expected cost of the Horizon scandal and a full breakdown, including any costs paid by the Post Office Ltd. (POL) itself. We also look forward to seeing the Government’s …
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Government Response
The government claims it has already provided the requested information in a letter from the Minister, clarifying that the £685.6 million is maximum budget cover for compensation, not a direct grant to the Post Office and detailing what it includes.
Department for Business and Trade
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Government Response AI assessment · 29 of 20 classified
Accepted
14
Acknowledged
12
Total
20 recs + 9 conclusions
Correspondence 15 letters
22 Feb 2022
To committee
Letter from Nick Read, Chief Executive, Post Office Limited on compensation for victims of the Horizon Scandal
Parliament page
9 Feb 2022
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets on costs relating to Post Office and Horizon issues
Parliament page
8 Sep 2021
To committee
Letter from the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets on compensation payments for Postmasters
Parliament page
26 May 2021
To committee
Letter from the Minister to the Chair relating to the Post Office and Horizon IT Inquiry
Parliament page
29 Apr 2021
To committee
Letter from the Minister to the Chair relating to the Court of Appeal overturning the convictions of 39 Postmasters
Parliament page
22 Oct 2020
To committee
Letter from the Minister to the Chair regarding the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry
Parliament page
7 Oct 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Minister on the Independent Review into the Post Office Ltd Horizon IT system
Parliament page
25 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Minister on Independent Review into Post Office and Horizon
Parliament page
25 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Fujitsu Ltd on Post Office and Horizon
Parliament page
25 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Nick Read on Post Office and Horizon
Parliament page
25 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Paula Vennells on Post Office and Horizon
Parliament page
3 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Fujitsu
Parliament page
3 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Paula Vennells
Parliament page
3 Jun 2020
To committee
Letter from Chair to Nick Read
Parliament page
4 Mar 2020
From committee
Letter to the Prime Minister on Post Office dated 3 March 2020
Parliament page