Horizon: MPs to hold evidence session on compensation for sub-postmasters

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee of the House of Commons is set to hold an evidence session looking into compensation for sub-postmasters who were prosecuted or otherwise affected by problems with the Post Office’s Horizon IT system.

The session on 11 January will hear from Small Business Minister Paul Scully and Post Office chief executive Nick Read, among others. This is the second of the committee’s two planned sessions focussing on issues relating to compensation for sub-postmasters.

The first session was held last month on 14 December, and has heard from Alan Bates, former sub-postmaster and founder of Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance who led the successful group litigation at the High Court, Dr Neil Hudgell, executive chairman of Hudgell Solicitors and former sub-postmasters Jo Hamilton and Paul Harry.

Separately on the same day, the government has confirmed funding to facilitate Post Office to make final compensation payments to postmasters whose convictions have been overturned in cases related to the Horizon scandal.

Post Office has then revealed that interim payments of up to £100,000 have been provided for the majority of people affected, following earlier government funding support in July.

The session next week is likely to probe how effective the Post Office and the government have been in attempting to address the financial loss suffered by sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal. It will also cover issues including the obstacles facing former sub-postmasters seeking financial compensation and how these might be addressed, the committee said.