Eighth Report - Post Office and Horizon - Compensation: interim report
Select Committee
Business and Trade Committee
HC 1129
17 February 2022
Government response
Tenth Special Report - Post Office and Horizon – Compensation: interim report. Government Response to the Committee’s Eighth Report · published 27 Apr 2022
Recommendations & Conclusions
12 results
5
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 25
The Government must confirm how long it expects it to take for final settlements to...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
We recommend that the Government provides regular updates when compensation is refused for sub-postmasters who...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 39
We ask POL to explain how it ensures that the ADR process is fully independent...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 41
Bearing in mind the nature of the Horizon scandal—including the deep mistrust of its victims...
Conclusion
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 Summary
The Government accepts the Committee’s recommendation.
Department for Business and Trade
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14
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 42
In response to this report, POL and BEIS should provide details of who was consulted...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 44
It is imperative that any victim of the Horizon scandal receives compensation that puts them...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 47
We share concerns about the process by which claims to the Historic Shortfall Scheme are...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 49
We recommend that that the Government in consultation with POL set out the reasons for...
Recommendation
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 Summary
The government accepts the Committee’s recommendation.
Department for Business and Trade
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19
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 53
We are disappointed that so few claims have been processed by the Historic Shortfall Scheme...
Conclusion
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 Summary
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
Para 54
The fact that the Post Office and BEIS officials admitted that they underestimated the number...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 62
The absence of records held by the Post Office Ltd.
Recommendation
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 Summary
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
Para 67
We recommend that the Government liaise with the Post Office to establish how many of...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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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