Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Horizon: Northern Ireland Postmasters

Thursday 2 May 2024 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government agreed a Bill to include convictions in Northern Ireland in the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill
  • Minister intends for legislation to clear both Houses by July
  • Compensation redress will be paid from August if legislation proceeds as planned

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
NHS Northern Ireland
Context

Postmasters in Northern Ireland have been affected by errors in the Horizon IT system, leading to wrongful convictions and financial damage.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support postmasters affected by errors in the Horizon IT system in Northern Ireland. The Government agreed a Bill including convictions in Northern Ireland on Monday, ensuring that postmasters there receive exoneration and compensation on a UK-wide basis.

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

On Monday, the House agreed a Government amendment to include convictions in Northern Ireland in the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill. The amendment ensures that postmasters receive exoneration and access to compensation on a UK-wide basis.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for steps being taken by the department, but the answer was limited to confirming an amendment to the Bill without providing specific measures or timelines.

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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Justice & Courts Northern Ireland
Context

Postmasters in Northern Ireland have been affected by errors in the Horizon IT system, leading to wrongful convictions and financial damage.

Question

The Government agreed a Bill including convictions in Northern Ireland on Monday. Will the Minister outline a timeline so that postmasters across all of Northern Ireland can see an end to reputational and financial damage caused by the Horizon scheme?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

It is our intention that the legislation will clear both Houses by July. If this happens as expected, the convictions will be quashed in July and compensation redress will be paid from August.

Answered
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