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Post Office Horizon Inquiry Volume 1 2025-07-08
08 July 2025
Lead MP
Gareth Thomas
Debate Type
General Debate
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Other Contributors: 19
At a Glance
Gareth Thomas raised concerns about post office horizon inquiry volume 1 2025-07-08 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Sir Wyn Williams has released the first volume of his report into the Horizon scandal, which caused significant harm to postmasters. The Minister emphasises the bravery of those who fought for recognition and outlines the Government's response, including quadrupling compensation from £236 million to nearly £1.1 billion. The Government will meet Sir Wyn’s deadline of 10 October and address all recommendations promptly.
Harriett Baldwin
Con
West Worcestershire
Welcomes the release of volume one but raises concerns about the delays in compensation, calling for a clear response from the Government by 10 October on all 19 recommendations. Criticises oversight failures and asks about steps to address delays and ensure full compensation. Questions Fujitsu's role and its contribution to redress schemes.
Jo Hamilton
Lab
West Ham
The hon. Lady rightly gives me the opportunity to again pay tribute... She knows that Sir Wyn Williams is due to publish the second part of his report, which focuses on those very questions.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North
On behalf of our Committee, I welcome this report from Sir Wyn Williams... Does the Minister also accept that we must now, once and for all, strip the Post Office of any role in the Horizon shortfall scheme?
I want to take this opportunity again to pay tribute to the work of the Business and Trade Committee under my right hon. Friend’s chairmanship... I hope that we will be able to give confidence to those people that they will have a chance to get full and fair redress.
Sarah Olney
LD
Richmond Park
I thank the Minister for giving me advance sight of his statement... What conversations have the Government had with the Post Office and Fujitsu about restorative justice in the light of Sir Wyn’s recommendations?
Kate Osborne
Lab
Jarrow and Gateshead East
Kate Osborne highlighted the role of Fujitsu in contributing to compensation and urged the Government to stop awarding contracts to Fujitsu, citing a specific HMRC contract worth £355 million. She also emphasised the moral obligation for Fujitsu to contribute towards the costs of the scandal.
As Minister, Gareth Thomas acknowledged the ongoing work on compensation schemes and highlighted that 100 police officers are investigating the scandal. He promised a pilot scheme with 150 cases for redress to victims and confirmed discussions with Fujitsu regarding interim payments.
Andrew Mitchell
Con
Sutton Coldfield
Sir Andrew Mitchell questioned the effectiveness of Parliament in addressing such scandals, suggesting that state institutions should hold those responsible accountable. He highlighted his previous efforts to raise awareness about the scandal since 2020.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab
Hampstead and Highgate
Siddiq pointed out that the scandal disproportionately affected people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. She questioned whether the report adequately addressed this disparity and urged the Minister to address it moving forward.
Chris Law
SNP
Dundee Central
Law criticised the Government for not addressing compensation delays quickly enough and emphasised that victims continue to face an adversarial attitude from the Post Office. He quoted his previous statement on 'justice delayed is justice denied.'
Ian Byrne
Lab
Liverpool West Derby
Byrne stressed the need for transparency in identifying those responsible and highlighted historical cover-ups similar to the contaminated blood scandal, urging full enactment of laws like the Hillsborough law.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Lewis suggested looking at the experience of the compensation body dealing with contaminated blood scandals for better handling future disasters and ensuring more efficient delivery of compensation.
Gareth Thomas
Con
Not specified
Commends the consistent campaigning on this issue and underlines Fujitsu's moral responsibility. Welcomes Fujitsu's acceptance of their obligation but emphasises the importance of Sir Wyn Williams' report for understanding the scale of responsibilities. Calls for an interim payment from Fujitsu.
Edinburgh West
Raises concerns about a constituent who has been unfairly dismissed due to the Horizon scandal and is still waiting for recognition and compensation. Asks the Minister what will be done to speed up the process.
Acknowledges Christine Jardine's point and offers reassurance that the publication of Sir Wyn Williams' report should encourage more victims to come forward with claims. Emphasises his determination to move forward on the specific case discussed.
David Davis
Con
Goole and Pocklington
Brings up a constituent, Janet Skinner, who has been struggling for 18 years for compensation after wrongful conviction. Asks the Minister to commit to solving these issues in months rather than years.
Agrees with David Davis' challenge and recognises that every victim waiting for compensation has waited too long. Acknowledges progress made over the last 12 months but commits to going further and faster.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Welcomes Sir Wyn Williams' report and criticises Post Office officials for their obstructionist tactics, leading to delays in providing necessary documentation. Calls for the removal of Post Office from the compensation process.
Recognises scepticism about Post Office's role but argues that removing them would delay compensation further. Acknowledges Sir Wyn Williams' recommendations and his 19 suggestions to go faster, with some needing more detailed review before action.
Government Response
Government Response
The Government is committed to meeting Sir Wyn Williams' deadline of 10 October. Acknowledges the ongoing work on compensation schemes, redress for family members affected by the scandal, and discussions with Fujitsu regarding their contribution. I welcome the hon. Lady’s comments, and I welcome the challenge to the Government... We will think through the different steps that we need to take in that regard. Minister Gareth Thomas emphasised ongoing work on delivering fair redress to victims, discussed negotiations with Fujitsu for interim payments, and committed to transparency in identifying those responsible through Sir Wyn’s final report. Underlines Fujitsu's moral responsibility and welcomes their acceptance of the obligation. Acknowledges the need for an interim payment from Fujitsu based on Sir Wyn Williams' report, which will understand the scale of responsibilities better. Reassures Christine Jardine that publication of the report should encourage more victims to come forward with claims. Commits to solving issues in months rather than years after David Davis' challenge and acknowledges progress but commits to going further and faster despite Post Office's role.
Shadow Response
Dame Harriett Baldwin
Shadow Response
Welcomes the report but criticises delays in compensation and oversight failures. Asks for a clear response from the Government by 10 October on all recommendations, questions Fujitsu's role, and seeks updates on progress of securing a new computer system.
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