Apply best offer principle equally in GLOS
The "best offer" principle which will apply in HSSA, as explained in response to Recommendation 10, shall be equally applicable in GLOS.
- The Department for Business and Trade accepted this recommendation on 9 October 2025, confirming the "best offer" principle applies equally across GLO, HSSA and HCRS schemes at all panel stages since 12 August 2025 (Government response to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report (volume 1), DBT, 9 October 2025).
- The Department announced it would implement this change retrospectively, with any postmaster who received a binding second panel award lower than their final DBT offer receiving a top-up payment (Government response to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report (volume 1), DBT, 9 October 2025).
- The Business and Trade Select Committee noted DBT committed to applying the "best offer" principle retrospectively across all three schemes (Business and Trade Select Committee evidence session, January 2026).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedDepartment for Business and Trade accepts this recommendation. The "best offer" principle applies equally across GLO, HSSA, and HCRS schemes at all panel stages. This has been in effect since 12 August. DBT will retrospectively top up awards in cases where binding second panel decisions fell below final DBT offers.
Progress Timeline
The Department announced on 8 July 2025 that DBT would adopt a best offer principle at panel stage on the GLO, HSSA and HCRS schemes. DBT consulted the Advisory Board, Sir Ross Cranston and claimants' legal representatives. DBT has been implementing the policy at all panel stages, and per head of loss, since 12 August 2025.
Verification: Government published formal response to Volume 1 recommendations on 13 October 2025, accepting 17 of 18 recommendations. Total compensation paid across all schemes: £1.38 billion as of December 2025. Volume 2 of Final Report expected 2026.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Business and Trade Select Committee noted DBT committed to applying the "best offer" principle retrospectively across GLO, HSSA and HCRS, including to awards already made.
View detailed findings
Business and Trade Committee held an evidence session on 6 January 2026 with witnesses from Fujitsu, the CCRC, DBT and MoJ. The CCRC revealed Horizon software may have been installed earlier than previously believed, potentially expanding the pool of eligible convictions. Over 4,000 claimants were still awaiting final settlement across all schemes at that date. Government accepted only 3 of 17 committee recommendations in full.