The shadow Secretary expressed hope for cross-party cooperation in providing swift compensation to those affected by the Horizon scandal. He acknowledged that over £222 million has been paid out, but asked when the new redress scheme would be operational and detailed timelines for top-ups and appeal processes.

The Member highlighted a wider societal issue wherein the establishment fails to listen to ordinary people’s voices, using examples like Orgreave, Grenfell, contaminated blood, and Hillsborough. He asked if the Minister would raise this matter with other Ministers.

The Member welcomed the Minister back to his position and asked about evidence of cultural changes at the Post Office since the scandal. He questioned what evidence has been seen that the culture has changed.

Referring to the systematic failure across Government, the Member asked about the role of third-party organisations like WhistleblowersUK in preventing future scandals. He questioned whether current legislation provides sufficient confidence for whistleblowers.

The Member congratulated the Minister on his appointment and asked whether the Government would promote the view that the Post Office is safe to use. He highlighted a serious issue where some members of the public are not using Post Offices as they did previously due to the scandal.

It is a delight to see you back in the Chair, Mr Speaker. There were many sub-postmasters and mistresses who were not convicted, but who are seriously out of pocket due to the shortfalls that they themselves made up and deeply traumatised by the experience that they went through. Can the Minister provide reassurance that the Department will seek to ensure that they are supported, and that the compensation scheme is swift, effective but also very straightforward for them?

Beyond compensation, one of the most important things that campaigners are looking for is consequences for those people who played a part in the creation of this scandal. The Prime Minister has made much about the integrity and accountability of his Government. Presumably that is retrospective. What consequence does the Minister envisage for those current serving Government Ministers who are deemed by the inquiry to have been negligent in their conduct in ministerial office in the past?

I welcome the Minister to his place. I know that he was vociferous on this issue when he was on the Opposition Back Benches, so I have absolutely no doubt that he will deliver on it. Some 26 postmasters implicated in the scandal in Northern Ireland are worried and concerned. It is imperative that all postmasters feel that they can have an open and frank discussion with no fear of repercussion in the upcoming investigations, and there can be no further unwarranted delays. Can the Minister confirm that, as a priority, he will make sure that postmasters have access at every level to ensure that their concerns are addressed and that he will make every effort to take steps in the right direction? Thank you so much, Mr Speaker.

I congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on your return to your place, and the Minister on taking up his appointment. Compensation is one part of this, but what victims of this scandal, such as Betty whom I met, want to see are truth and accountability. I am referring not just to Ministers, to whom my right hon. Friend the Member for North West Hampshire (Kit Malthouse) referred, but to those involved in the scandal. What can the Minister say to people in the Post Office and to Betty, who want to see those responsible in the Post Office properly held to account, as well as the compensation for their suffering?

I was privileged to be one of those MPs who, a decade ago, was campaigning on this issue in Parliament with the now Lord Arbuthnot and campaigning on cases in my constituency—people had been treated appallingly. Those people have not yet received compensation. If there is going to be any kind of delay in compensation to those who have suffered, is there any way that early, interim payments can be made to those who need the support now and certainly before too long?

The legislation that we passed was a blanket measure. It might be clear to us who is or is not included, but for the individuals affected it will not necessarily have been clear. Will the Minister update the House on the progress that has been made in identifying them and writing to them to confirm that their convictions have been quashed?