Close HSS Dispute Resolution Procedure when HSSA opens
The current Dispute Resolution Procedure in HSS should be closed once all claimants currently within the Procedure have either (a) settled their claims or (b) transferred to HSSA. No claimant who is not in the Dispute Resolution Procedure when HSSA opens should be eligible to join the Dispute Resolution Procedure.
- The Department for Business and Trade rejected this recommendation on 9 October 2025, stating it conflicted with the principle of "full and fair" redress and that postmasters should retain the choice between dispute resolution and the appeals process (Government response to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report (volume 1), DBT, 9 October 2025).
- The Business and Trade Select Committee noted the rejection, and the committee report HC 1598 did not challenge it directly but concluded the broader HSS scheme remained in need of reform (Business and Trade Committee, HC 1598, March 2026).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Not Accepted
Response
Not AcceptedDepartment for Business and Trade rejects this recommendation as it conflicts with the principle of providing "full and fair" redress. Postmasters should retain the choice between continuing with the dispute resolution procedure or transferring to HSSA based on their individual circumstances and with the benefit of funded legal advice. No claimant should be forced to abandon an existing process.
Progress Timeline
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.
HC 1598 noted the government's rejection of this recommendation. The committee did not challenge the rejection directly but concluded the broader HSS process is dysfunctional, with Post Office Ltd's continued central role in administering redress undermining trust in the system.
View detailed findings
Business and Trade Committee HC 1598 (13 March 2026) examined redress delivery one year on. Key findings: £1.44bn paid to 11,300+ claimants but thousands still waiting. HSS takes 143 days average for fixed-sum offers (target: 30 days) and 450 days for assessed claims (target: 180 days). Total redress bill now approximately £2bn. Fujitsu has contributed nothing. Committee made 29 formal conclusions and recommendations across redress schemes, quashed convictions, Fujitsu contribution, and pre-Horizon (Capture) IT system concerns.
Business and Trade Select Committee noted the government rejected this recommendation. DBT stated that closing the Dispute Resolution Procedure would conflict with the principle of providing "full and fair" redress. Claimants in the DRP continued to be able to use it.
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.