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
12 results
5
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
The Government must confirm how long it expects it to take for final settlements to...
The Government must confirm how long it expects it to take for final settlements to be made to sub-postmasters after they have received their interim payments. The Government should set out what criteria they are using to determine final payments, …
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Government Response
The Post Office aims to make interim payments within 28 days and final settlements are determined through individual negotiations. The government will provide principles informing the offers made and the approach adopted.
Department for Business and Trade
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8
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We recommend that the Government provides regular updates when compensation is refused for sub-postmasters who...
We recommend that the Government provides regular updates when compensation is refused for sub-postmasters who have had their convictions overturned, the reasons for this and if subsequent compensation is sought and awarded. The Government should ensure that POL provide us …
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Government Response
The government provides information regarding interim compensation payments, the criteria for eligibility, and the number of claims declined. It describes the confidential form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and BEIS's role in providing funding, agreeing on significant decisions, and monitoring progress towards settlements.
Department for Business and Trade
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12
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We ask POL to explain how it ensures that the ADR process is fully independent...
We ask POL to explain how it ensures that the ADR process is fully independent from the Scheme, how many claimants have used it, and what the outcomes have been. We also recommend that the Government provide us with details …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the recommendation and refers to the Historical Shortfall Scheme's three-stage Dispute Resolution Procedure, including Good Faith and Escalation Meetings, but does not commit to any new actions beyond existing processes.
Department for Business and Trade
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13
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
Bearing in mind the nature of the Horizon scandal—including the deep mistrust of its victims...
Bearing in mind the nature of the Horizon scandal—including the deep mistrust of its victims of the Post Office Ltd. (POL), BEIS and UKGI, its historical nature and issues surrounding the availability of records and a flawed IT system—we would …
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Government Response
The Government accepts the Committee’s recommendation.
Department for Business and Trade
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14
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
In response to this report, POL and BEIS should provide details of who was consulted...
In response to this report, POL and BEIS should provide details of who was consulted in drawing up the Scheme, what issues were raised by those consulted, and how those issues were addressed. We also recommend that POL and BEIS …
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Government Response
The government stated it accepts the recommendation regarding details of who was consulted in drawing up the Scheme and what opportunities were given to claimants to raise concerns.
Department for Business and Trade
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15
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
It is imperative that any victim of the Horizon scandal receives compensation that puts them...
It is imperative that any victim of the Horizon scandal receives compensation that puts them back in the position they would have been in had the scandal not occurred, whilst also taking accounting of the distress the scandal caused them. …
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Government Response
The government stated it accepts the recommendation regarding compensation for victims of the Horizon scandal.
Department for Business and Trade
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16
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We share concerns about the process by which claims to the Historic Shortfall Scheme are...
We share concerns about the process by which claims to the Historic Shortfall Scheme are assessed and then reviewed by the Independent Panel. Bearing in mind that the Post Office (POL) bears a major part of the responsibility for the …
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Government Response
The government stated it accepts the recommendation regarding concerns about the process by which claims are assessed.
Department for Business and Trade
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18
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We recommend that that the Government in consultation with POL set out the reasons for...
We recommend that that the Government in consultation with POL set out the reasons for involving POL in assessing claims, how this was discussed with stakeholders and how they dealt with any concerns stakeholders may have raised regarding POL’s involvement. …
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Government Response
The government accepts the Committee’s recommendation.
Department for Business and Trade
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19
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We are disappointed that so few claims have been processed by the Historic Shortfall Scheme...
We are disappointed that so few claims have been processed by the Historic Shortfall Scheme considering it was closed over a year ago. The conclusion of only 30% of Post Office and Horizon - Compensationn interim report 25 claims does …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's disappointment with the slow processing of claims under the Historic Shortfall Scheme.
Department for Business and Trade
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20
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
The fact that the Post Office and BEIS officials admitted that they underestimated the number...
The fact that the Post Office and BEIS officials admitted that they underestimated the number of potential claims is telling and indeed, troubling, and suggests that they may not have appreciated the true extent of the Horizon scandal. We acknowledge …
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Government Response
The government stated it accepts the recommendation that both BEIS and UKGI should be held accountable for their oversight role.
Department for Business and Trade
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23
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
The absence of records held by the Post Office Ltd.
The absence of records held by the Post Office Ltd. (POL) and other relevant organisations, such as HMRC, DWP and the Royal Mail Group, along with an absence of local suspense accounts for individual POL branches, raises serious questions as …
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Government Response
The government stated it accepts the recommendation regarding the absence of records and how victims can evidence losses.
Department for Business and Trade
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27
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Eighth Report - Post Office and Ho…
We recommend that the Government liaise with the Post Office to establish how many of...
We recommend that the Government liaise with the Post Office to establish how many of the 2,500 claimants have been offered support through the Scheme, at which point support was offered, if costs were covered, how much was paid on …
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Government Response
The government says the Post Office is committed to providing adequate support to all applicants, including a well-being helpline, training for support staff, and a Historical Matters Remediation Team. The government provides oversight through regular meetings with the Post Office and challenges to the process.
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