Government rejects demands for statutory inquiry into Horizon scandal

The government has dismissed the demands for a statutory inquiry into the Post Office Horizon scandal, saying that all stakeholders are participating with the ongoing independent review.

Responding to MPs who repeatedly raised the demand during a Commons debate on 27 April on the Court of Appeal judgment that quashed the convictions of 39 sub-postmasters, Business Minister Paul Scully said the government would review the situation if the inquiry, led by ex-High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams, faces any issue with evidence collection.

“The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is working well with Sir Wyn Williams, and we are participating fully in the inquiry, as are the Post Office and Fujitsu. Sir Wyn Williams clearly feels that he is getting the support, answers and participation that he needs from the relevant organisations. If that changes, clearly we can review that,” the minister said.

Following the December 2019 High Court judgment in the long-running Horizon trial, which went against the Post Office, the government has last year lunched an independent review into the scandal, but as it is a non-statutory inquiry, it has to rely on the voluntary compliance of witnesses.

Speaking during the debate Labour MP Chi Onwurah said a “statutory inquiry with genuine subpoena and witness compulsion powers, and a specific remit to consider compensation claims” is needed to deliver justice to sub-postmasters.

“We have the greatest respect for Sir Wyn Williams, but his inquiry has no real powers and key questions about compensation, the criminal prosecutions of postmasters, and the responsibility of civil servants and Government, are outside its remit. As such, the inquiry is toothless and may even lead to a whitewash,” she added.

Responding to the demands for compensation for the postmasters, Scully said government will work with the Post Office to see all postmasters whose convictions have been overturned fairly compensated as quickly as possible.

He added that the government last month announced sufficient financial support to the Post Office to ensure that its historical shortfall scheme related to the Horizon system could proceed.

“Payments under the scheme have now begun, and the government will continue to work with the Post Office to see that the scheme delivers on all of its objectives, and that appropriate compensation is paid to all eligible postmasters in a timely manner,” he said.