Amend GLOS to allow claimants oral submissions at panel hearings
The scheme documents governing GLOS should be amended so that a right is conferred upon claimants (exercisable by the claimants themselves or their recognised legal representatives) to make oral submissions in support of their claim at the hearing convened by an independent panel prior to that panel making a binding determination in respect of a claimant's claim or part thereof. The length of time afforded to claimants to make such oral submissions at the hearing should be no less than the time afforded to claimants for such submissions in HSSA.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedDepartment for Business and Trade accepts this recommendation. GLOS claimants already had the right to make oral submissions for up to one hour at independent panel hearings prior to the panel making a binding determination. The Panel Terms of Reference have been amended to formally document this existing practice. The time afforded to claimants for oral submissions is no less than that afforded in HSSA.
Progress Timeline
All claimants in the GLO scheme already had the right to make oral submissions for up to one hour in support of their claim at the hearing convened by the Independent Panel. The same approach is adopted in the HSSA process. The Panel's Terms of Reference have been amended to reflect this existing practice. They can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/compensation-scheme-for-group-litigation-order-case-postmasters/terms-of-reference-of-the-glo-scheme-independent-panel--2
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 implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Business and Trade Select Committee noted that GLOS claimants already had the right to make oral submissions, meaning this recommendation was in effect already satisfied.
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.