Post Office Horizon

In a statement to the House of Commons, the minister addressed the ongoing issue of convictions being quashed across the UK through recent legislation. The minister announced that the Horizon convictions redress scheme, which will be fully delivered by the Department and not the Post Office, will provide financial redress to those affected. The minister encouraged those who believe they are eligible to come forward and register for the scheme, rather than waiting for a letter. Guidance has been provided on the government's website to help people understand their eligibility and the application process. Victims will have the option to either accept a fixed settlement of £600,000 or choose a full claim assessment if they believe their losses exceed that amount. Regardless of the route chosen, eligible applicants will receive a preliminary payment of £200,000 once their eligibility is confirmed. The government is ensuring that applicants can access historical data from the Post Office and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to support their decision and application. The minister acknowledged that in a few cases, some information may not be retrievable, but assured the House that a fair offer will be made to the sub-postmasters who have suffered this injustice. The minister emphasized that the House was united in the previous Parliament in its desire to see justice for the sub-postmasters, and that the current government intends to deliver on that commitment.