Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Post Office Horizon System: Exoneration of Sub-postmasters

Thursday 25 January 2024 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial plans announced to bring forward legislation within weeks to overturn convictions related to the Post Office Horizon system.
  • The legislation aims to cover those who used the pilot version of Horizon and were potentially subject to similar abuses.
  • The requirement to sign the Official Secrets Act does not relate to the confidentiality of issues regarding mistreatment by Post Office Ltd.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Justice & Courts
Context

The Post Office Horizon system failure resulted in wrongful convictions of many postmasters. The government announced plans to overturn these convictions but specifics about the legislative timeline are needed.

Question

When does she plan to bring forward legislative proposals to exonerate the remaining sub-postmasters with criminal convictions relating to the failure of the Post Office Horizon system?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

On 10 January, we announced the Government's intention to bring forward legislation within weeks to overturn the convictions of all those convicted in England or Wales on the basis of Post Office evidence during the Horizon scandal. I met the Justice Secretary only this week to make sure that those plans are on track, and we hope to bring forward that legislation as soon as possible.

Answered
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Q2 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Justice & Courts
Context

The Post Office Horizon system failure led to wrongful convictions. The government's plans for legislative proposals need clarification.

Question

Does he have an estimate of how many convictions were made during the Horizon pilot? Will he confirm that those convictions will be included in the legislation, given that they were not made using Horizon data?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

We do not know that number yet, but we are very concerned about people who used the pilot version of Horizon and were potentially subject to similar abuses. We do believe they fall under similar compensation schemes, and there is no reason why they would not be covered by the legislation to overturn convictions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact number of convictions from the Horizon pilot was not provided.

How: We Do Not Know That Number Yet

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Q3 David Davis Con Goole and Pocklington
Standards & Ethics
Context

Postmasters have been hesitant to come forward due to non-disclosure agreements. There are concerns about the Official Secrets Act preventing them from discussing their issues.

Question

For the legislation to work, postmasters must come forward. A constituent mentioned a non-disclosure agreement and signing the Official Secrets Act as reasons for hesitation. Is he willing to end this policy if it prevents people from speaking out?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

I thank my right hon. Friend for all the work he has done in this area. I understand that the requirement to sign the Official Secrets Act relates to the confidentiality of mail; it does not relate to the confidentiality of issues regarding mistreatment by Post Office Ltd. My right hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise that point, and I will certainly raise it with Post Office Ltd, but I can confirm that that would not prevent somebody from speaking out, including to their Member of Parliament.

Answered
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Q4 Jonathan Reynolds Labour (Co-op) Stalybridge and Hyde
Standards & Ethics
Context

There is a need to ensure safeguards against potential misuse of precedent. The government needs cross-party support for the exercise of powers.

Question

Could cross-party agreement be established as an essential provision for the exercise of powers of this kind, to ensure safeguards against any potential future misuse?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

I thank the hon. Gentleman for the constructive way he has engaged with us on this issue. I know that the Justice Secretary spoke to the Leader of the Opposition this week on this very matter, and we are very keen to engage with the hon. Gentleman too. He is right to say the solution is imperfect. We believe it is the least worst option, but of course we will engage with him and make sure that he feels the legislation is in the right place.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not explicitly confirm cross-party agreement as an essential provision.

How: But Of Course We Will Engage With Him

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Q5 Jonathan Reynolds Labour (Co-op) Stalybridge and Hyde
Justice & Courts
Context

There are concerns about excluding convictions related to the use of data from the Horizon pilot system, even though they were technically prosecuted without official Horizon data.

Question

Will he confirm that all prosecutions arising from the Horizon pilot scheme will now also be included in the exonerations, given that although people were technically prosecuted without official Horizon data, it is very much the same issue?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

Again, the hon. Gentleman raises a very important point, similar to one made earlier. The circumstances were similar, so we feel there is no reason to exclude people who have been convicted in similar circumstances. Again, I am happy to work with him on that issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not explicitly confirm inclusion of prosecutions from the Horizon pilot scheme.

How: Again, I Am Happy To Work With Him

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