Post Office Horizon

In the House of Commons debate on the Post Office Horizon scandal, the Government's position was outlined by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Justin Madders. He explained that the Government has set up a Horizon convictions redress scheme, which will be wholly delivered by the Department, not the Post Office. Victims can choose between a fixed settlement of £600,000 or a full claim assessment, and will receive a preliminary payment of £200,000 once their eligibility is confirmed. The official opposition, represented by Kevin Hollinrake, expressed disappointment that neither the Secretary of State nor the postal affairs Minister had responded to the urgent question. He noted that the commitment to allow victims to apply for redress before the summer recess had not been honoured, and questioned when the remaining 690 postmasters would receive their letters and when the first £600,000 payments would be made. The debate that followed covered several key topics. Members raised concerns about the delays in the process, with Liam Byrne highlighting that 80% of the budget for redress had not been paid out. Sarah Olney of the Liberal Democrats suggested that an independent intermediary body should be set up to ensure the schemes are delivered fairly and effectively. The issue of individuals who were not directly employed by the Post Office but were still impacted by the Horizon scandal was raised by Ian Lavery, who sought advice for his constituents in that situation. Sir Gavin Williamson and Pamela Nash also discussed the impact on specific communities and the need for continued cooperation with the Scottish Government. The Minister acknowledged the frustration over the delays, citing the challenges in corroborating data and accessing historical records. He assured the House that the Government is working to expedite the process and ensure that all eligible individuals receive the compensation they deserve, including through the use of disclosure packs and independent mediation. The debate highlighted the ongoing efforts to address this significant miscarriage of justice and provide redress to the affected postmasters.