Recommendation POH-14: Post Office to engage in negotiations during HSSA appeal period
From Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry: Volume 1 Report, published 8 July 2025.
Recommendation
During the nine-month period afforded to claimants to submit an appeal to the Department in HSSA, the Post Office shall engage in negotiations and/or mediation with any claimants who notify the Post Office of a desire to seek a negotiated or mediated settlement of their claim.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended negotiations or mediation with claimants during their appeal window. In an update of February 2026, published in March 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) had applied the recommendation by allowing claimants to hold good faith or escalation meetings with Post Office Limited during a revised three-month notification window (Cabinet Office, Mar 2026). In January 2026, the Business and Trade Select Committee questioned whether this three-month deadline gave claimants sufficient time, noting that over 4,000 claimants were still awaiting final settlement across all schemes (Business and Trade Select Committee, Jan 2026). In October 2025, Nigel Railton, Chair of the company, confirmed it was actively corresponding with legal advisers to resolve claims in that period (Nigel Railton response, Oct 2025).
Sources
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
Prior to the publication of the Inquiry's report, DBT agreed that instead of a nine-month period for postmasters to submit a full appeal there should be a three-month deadline to notify the Department of an intention to appeal. Post Office will work with postmasters and their legal advisers to progress claims in the DRP during the three-month election window as advised by DBT and is actively corresponding with legal advisers to ensure that where postmasters wish to meet and try to settle their claims, we can do so in a timely manner.
Prior to the publication of the Inquiry’s report, DBT had been in discussion with claimants’ legal representatives about the deadlines for submission of HSS Appeals. In the light of the representatives’ concerns, DBT has agreed that, instead of a 9 month period for postmasters to submit a full appeal, there should be a 3 month deadline to notify DBT of an intention to appeal. There will then be a further deadline for the submission of full papers. The deadline for notification of intention to appeal will be 3 months from the publication of this paper, for those who have settled or previously rejected their claim, or 3 months from the date of rejection of an HSS Independent Panel offer. These changes affect the context for implementation of the recommendation. DBT intends to apply it as fully as possible in the new context. Postmasters will therefore be able to engage in Good Faith or Escalation Meetings with the Post Office during the 3 month period whilst they decide whether to apply for HSSA.
Delivery
Cabinet Office says completed (2 March 2026)
In light of concerns raised by claimants’ representatives, DBT had agreed prior to the publication of the Inquiry report that instead of a 9 month period for claimants to submit a full appeal, there should be a 3 month deadline to notify DBT of an intention to appeal. There will then be a further deadline for the submission of a full claim within six months of full disclosure being received from Post Office. DBT has applied the recommendation as fully as possible in the new context. Claimants will therefore be able to engage in Good Faith or Escalation Meetings with the Post Office during the 3 month period whilst they decide whether to register for HSSA. More information about the timelines for registration can be found in table 1 of the eligibility section of the HSS Appeals guidance and principles https://www.gov.uk/guidance/horizon-shortfall-scheme-appeals-process-guidance-and-principles#eligibility
From: Post Office (Horizon) Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, February 2026 (data file)
Published evidence
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Summary by this site of the published finding
Business and Trade Select Committee noted the government implemented a 3-month notification deadline rather than the 9-month appeal period recommended. The committee questioned whether this gave claimants sufficient time to consider their options before committing.
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
- Post Office Ltd
Response - Department for Business and Trade
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement