Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry

According to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), DBT broadly accepted this recommendation, providing funded legal advice at the Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeal (HSSA) appeal permission stage, rather than upfront before claimants choose between a Fixed Sum Offer or assessed redress. According to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), an information support service has also been established to explain scheme options, but the Business and Trade Committee HC 1598 concluded on 13 March 2026 that this recommendation had not been properly implemented due to the timing of the legal advice, a concern also raised by the Business and Trade Select Committee on 6 January 2026.

According to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), DBT broadly accepted this recommendation, closing the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) to new applications on 31 January 2026, a later date than the recommended 27 November 2025. According to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Post Office issued reminder letters to claimants, and DBT committed to publishing guidance for exceptional late applications, and the Business and Trade Select Committee noted the closure date on 6 January 2026.

According to the Official government response (2023-09-21, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/response-to-post-office-horizon-it-inquiry-interim-report-compensation), the Department for Business and Trade partially accepted this recommendation in September 2023, updating the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board's Terms of Reference to include monitoring whether "full and fair compensation is being paid out to applicants" and advising the Minister quarterly. According to the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board (2026-01-01), the Board has since published quarterly reports on its monitoring of individual cases. According to the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board (2026-01-01), the Business and Trade Select Committee heard from the Board in January 2026 regarding the effectiveness of its monitoring role.

According to the Official government response (2023-09-21, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/response-to-post-office-horizon-it-inquiry-interim-report-compensation), the Department for Business and Trade partially accepted this recommendation in September 2023, confirming that monitoring overall fairness of compensation payments is a core duty of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board. According to the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board (2026-01-01), the Board continues to monitor whether compensation payments are fair and timely across all schemes. According to the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board (2026-01-01), the Business and Trade Select Committee examined the adequacy of the Board's monitoring role in January 2026.

According to the Official government response (2023-09-21, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/response-to-post-office-horizon-it-inquiry-interim-report-compensation), the Department for Business and Trade accepted this recommendation in principle in September 2023, stating its determination to deliver the General Litigation Order (GLO) scheme by August 2024 and its commitment to consider bringing forward legislation if the deadline appeared at risk. According to Gov.uk progress report (2026-01-31), the Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Act 2024 was enacted, which implemented interim report recommendations, but according to the Business and Trade Select Committee (2026-01-06), a standalone bill for the Limitation Act amendment had not been brought forward, and the government was considering longer-term legislative options as of January 2026.

According to the Official government response (2023-09-21, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/response-to-post-office-horizon-it-inquiry-interim-report-compensation), the Department for Business and Trade partially accepted this recommendation in September 2023, committing to discuss and agree a closing date for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) with the Post Office, with consultation of the Advisory Board before notification. According to Gov.uk progress report (2026-01-31) and the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board (2026-01-01), the HSS closing date was subsequently set as 31 January 2026, and the scheme closed to new claims on that date.