Recommendation POH-16: Clarify whether HCRS and OCS assessment processes differ
From Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry: Volume 1 Report, published 8 July 2025.
Recommendation
The Department shall make a public announcement in which (a) it clarifies whether there will be any differences in the process for assessing financial redress, between the merged HCRS and OCS, and the process currently operating in OCS and if so, (b) it explains what those differences in the process will be.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked the Department for Business and Trade to clarify differences between redress schemes. In a February 2026 update published in March 2026, the Cabinet Office stated that the department addressed the recommendation in October 2025 by confirming the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS) applies the same principles as the Overturned Convictions (OC) scheme (Cabinet Office, Mar 2026). The Business and Trade Select Committee noted in January 2026 that identical principles apply, while reporting that over 4,000 claimants across all schemes were still awaiting final settlement (Business and Trade Select Committee, Jan 2026). In October 2025, the department had published guidance on alternative dispute resolution and independent panel terms of reference to reassure claimants of consistent treatment (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
DBT confirms that the HCRS will apply the same principles as the previous OC scheme, ensuring no OC claimant is disadvantaged by the transfer to HCRS. DBT has published further guidance on GOV.UK about the roles of Dentons and Sir Gary Hickinbottom in the HCRS scheme, as well as on the Alternative Dispute Resolution process. You can read this in the guidance on Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS): alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS): Independent Panel terms of reference. DBT’s aim for the HCRS is to identify delays and move cases forward, similar to the OC scheme, with case management processes and an independent panel. Case management involves resolving disputes with an independent party when bilateral agreement is not reached. Dentons and Sir Gary Hickinbottom will manage cases as needed. Sir Gary will cover both pecuniary and non-pecuniary aspects of claims. Before case management, DBT will engage with claimants’ legal representatives to resolve claims early. DBT is engaging with OC claimants’ legal representatives to offer reassurance on the consistency of treatment between the HCRS and schemes.
Delivery
Cabinet Office says completed (2 March 2026)
DBT has confirmed that the HCRS will apply the same principles as the previous OC scheme, ensuring no OC claimant is disadvantaged by the transfer to HCRS. This recommendation was addressed through the publication of the Department’s response to Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report on 9 October 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 confirmed that HCRS applies identical principles to the previous OCS scheme, ensuring no OCS claimant would be disadvantaged by the transfer.
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