Ministers must do whatever it takes to clear the remaining claims in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme by the end of this year, an influential select committee has said.
The business and trade select committee has also urged Fujitsu to make an interim payment “immediately” to support affected Post Office subpostmasters.
The response, published by the Business and Trade Committee on June 18, welcomed progress on compensation but raised concerns that some victims may still not receive redress by the end of 2026, particularly those with complex claims under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS).
The committee said it did not accept "complexity" as a reason for delays and urged Post Office Ltd to prioritise and resource all outstanding claims to ensure they are settled by the end of next year.
The select committee said more than 4,600 additional eligible claims had been received in the year to 30 April 2026, with almost 6,000 more claims settled and an extra £596 million paid out in compensation during the period.
However, it acknowledged that some payments could extend beyond 2026, particularly where claims are exceptionally late or contain complex elements requiring further assessment.
The influential select committee said it must allow whatever resources it takes to clear the remaining claims in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme by the end of this year.
It also argued that the complexity of the cases is no excuse for ongoing delays.
The committee called on the Government to set a deadline for full payment or at least suggest an interim amount for Fujitsu to immediately pay to go towards the shortfall scheme. It also criticised the government's refusal to provide an upfront interim payment of £600,000 to all eligible claimants under the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS).
MPs argued that withholding the full amount unless claimants opt for a fixed-sum settlement could discourage victims from pursuing the compensation they are entitled to.
Meanwhile, the government accepted calls for Fujitsu to make a "significant contribution" towards the overall compensation bill and said it had urged the company to make an interim payment while discussions continue on the scale of its eventual contribution.
Hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongfully convicted of stealing between 1999 and 2015, after Fujitsu’s Horizon system made it look like money was missing from their branches, and many more made up supposed shortfalls from their personal savings.
An inquiry into the scandal, chaired by Sir Wyn Williams, is currently ongoing.