Post Office Horizon scandal update issued as major change to compensation scheme considered
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Business minister Gareth Thomas has revealed that the Government might take over from the Post Office in handling compensation for those affected by the Horizon scandal. In a statement to MPs, he disclosed that £79m has already been paid out to 232 individuals through the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme. However, concerns linger about the Post Office's capability to manage both the Horizon shortfall scheme and the overturned conviction scheme effectively.
The Horizon shortfall scheme offers subpostmasters a choice between a £75,000 Fixed Sum Award or a full assessment of their claim, while the overturned conviction scheme caters to anyone whose wrongful conviction due to the flawed Horizon IT system has been quashed by the courts.
Mr Thomas outlined a number of areas the Government was considering amending some parts of the redress system as there are still “complex cases to resolve”. He said: "There are still concerns about the responsibility of the Post Office to deliver the Horizon shortfall scheme and the overturned conviction scheme.".
"The Government is considering the merits of my department taking over this responsibility, but the benefits of such a move must clearly outweigh the disruption that could potentially be caused. We are carefully considering what, if any, intervention we may take.".
He earlier said: "We are looking again at the arguments for providing additional redress to members of postmasters’ families who were affected by the scandal, and to the employees of postmasters. I will report back to the House on that in due course.".
