Recommendation POH-11: Apply best offer principle equally in GLOS
From Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry: Volume 1 Report, published 8 July 2025.
Recommendation
The "best offer" principle which will apply in HSSA, as explained in response to Recommendation 10, shall be equally applicable in GLOS.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended extending the best offer principle to the Group Litigation Order scheme. The Cabinet Office reported in an update of February 2026, published in March 2026, that the Department for Business and Trade had been implementing the policy at all panel stages since August 2025 (Cabinet Office, Mar 2026). In January 2026, the Business and Trade Select Committee found that the department committed to applying the principle retrospectively, while over 4,000 claimants across all schemes were still awaiting final settlement (Business and Trade Select Committee, Jan 2026). In October 2025, the department stated that any postmaster who received a lower binding panel award would have redress topped up to the higher offer (Department for Business and Trade response, Oct 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
The minister announced on 8 July 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 and has been implementing the policy at all panel stages, and per head of loss, since 12 August. DBT will implement this change retrospectively. Any postmaster who received a binding award from the second panel that was lower than their final DBT offer will have their redress topped up to the higher level.
Delivery
Cabinet Office says completed (2 March 2026)
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.
From: Post Office (Horizon) Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, February 2026 (data file)
Published evidence
Published findings referenced by inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether the finding is independent or government self-reported. Each finding is this site's summary of what the source found, with a link to the source; this site does not add its own progress rating.
Summary by this site of the published finding
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.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Department for Business and Trade
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement