Latest news with #GroupLitigationOrderScheme
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Post Office compensation bombshell as 10,000 people may be eligible for payouts
The first part of a landmark final report has now been released today by retired judge Sir Wyn, in which he estimates there are around 10,000 people who are claiming compensation A bombshell report into the Post Office Horizon scandal has revealed 10,000 people may be eligible for compensation. More than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted between 1999 and 2015 of theft and fraud due to faulty Horizon software used by the Post Office. They were accused after faulty Horizon data incorrectly showed money was missing from their branch accounts. At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives following the impact of the prosecutions. The scandal has been called the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history, with anger around the case reignited last year thanks to the hit ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office. The first part of a landmark final report has now been released today by retired judge Sir Wyn, in which he estimates there are around 10,000 people who are claiming compensation through four schemes. This includes the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, Group Litigation Order Scheme, Overturned Convictions Scheme, and Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme. It is expected that this number will rise by hundreds or more in the coming months. More than £1billion has so far been paid out to over 7,300 postmasters. The 162-page report said: 'Wives, husbands, children and parents endured very significant suffering in the form of distress, worry and disruption (to home life, in employment and in education). 'In a number of cases relationships with spouses and partners broke down and ended in divorce or separation.' Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said: 'The publication of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry's report today by Sir Wyn and his team marks an important milestone for subpostmasters and their families. 'I welcome the publication today and am committed to ensuring wronged subpostmasters are given full, fair, and prompt redress. The recommendations contained in Sir Wyn's report require careful reflection, including on further action to complete the redress schemes. Government will promptly respond to the recommendations in full in Parliament.' Post Office Minister, Gareth Thomas, said: 'I welcome the Inquiry's publication today and pay tribute to Sir Wyn and his team for their comprehensive and penetrating work. 'We must never lose sight of the Horizon Scandal's human impact on postmasters and their families, which the Inquiry has highlighted so well. 'Sir Wyn's report highlights a series of failings by the Post Office and various governments. His recommendations are immensely helpful as a guide for what is needed to finish the job, and we will respond in full to Parliament after carefully considering them.'
ITV News
25-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Post Office compensation still moving far too slowly, MPs warn
Plans to compensate subpostmasters wronged by the Horizon IT scandal are 'still moving far too slowly', a committee of MPs has said. The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) needs to 'outline what more it will do to ensure every affected postmaster' is aware of their options for redress, according to the public accounts committee. The government announced earlier this month that more than £1 billion has been paid out to subpostmasters across the Horizon-related schemes. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Many are still awaiting compensation. Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has described the scandal as 'one of the UK's worst ever miscarriages of justice' as 'thousands of people were failed deeply by the system'. Releasing the annual report into DBT and its accounts, Sir Geoffrey said: 'This Committee would have hoped to have found government laser-focused on ensuring all those eligible were fully and fairly compensated for what happened. 'It is deeply dissatisfactory to find these schemes still moving far too slowly, with no government plans to track down the majority of potential claimants who may not yet be aware of their proper entitlements.' According to the findings of the report released on Wednesday, DBT does not 'yet have clarity' on the number of claims that could be submitted under the Horizon Shortfall scheme, or the value of claims that could come forward under the convictions redress scheme. According to figures released by the DBT earlier in June, £559 million has been paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme. The data also says that of the 492 subpostmasters who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court between 2017 and 2019 that have not been convicted, also known as the Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO), 488 have received £167 million between them. Elsewhere, £245 million has been paid out to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation put in place last summer, and £68 million has been paid to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts. A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: 'This report is based on a period from before last year's election. 'Since then, this Government has quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters to provide them with full and fair redress, with more than £1 billion having now been paid to thousands of claimants. 'We will consider the recommendations and work with the Post Office, who have already written to over 24,000 postmasters, to ensure that everyone who may be eligible for redress is given the opportunity to apply for it.'
Leader Live
25-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Post Office compensation still moving far too slowly, say MPs
The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) needs to 'outline what more it will do to ensure every affected postmaster' is aware of their options for redress, according to the public accounts committee. The Government announced earlier this month that more than £1 billion has been paid out to subpostmasters across the Horizon-related schemes. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Many are still awaiting compensation. Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has described the scandal as 'one of the UK's worst ever miscarriages of justice' as 'thousands of people were failed deeply by the system'. Releasing the annual report into DBT and its accounts, Sir Geoffrey said: 'This Committee would have hoped to have found government laser-focused on ensuring all those eligible were fully and fairly compensated for what happened. 'It is deeply dissatisfactory to find these schemes still moving far too slowly, with no government plans to track down the majority of potential claimants who may not yet be aware of their proper entitlements.' According to the findings of the report released on Wednesday, DBT does not 'yet have clarity' on the number of claims that could be submitted under the Horizon Shortfall scheme, or the value of claims that could come forward under the convictions redress scheme. The committee have said that the department should 'outline what more it will do to ensure every affected postmaster is fully aware of their options for making a claim under the Horizon Shortfall and Horizon Convictions Redress Schemes'. They also say that officials should lay out how they plan to deal with remaining cases under the convictions scheme in particular. According to figures released by the DBT earlier in June, £559 million has been paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme. The data also says that of the 492 subpostmasters who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court between 2017 and 2019 that have not been convicted, also known as the Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO), 488 have received £167 million between them. Elsewhere, £245 million has been paid out to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation put in place last summer, and £68 million has been paid to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts. A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: 'This report is based on a period from before last year's election. 'Since then, this Government has quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters to provide them with full and fair redress, with more than £1 billion having now been paid to thousands of claimants. 'We will consider the recommendations and work with the Post Office, who have already written to over 24,000 postmasters, to ensure that everyone who may be eligible for redress is given the opportunity to apply for it.'
South Wales Guardian
25-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Post Office compensation still moving far too slowly, say MPs
The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) needs to 'outline what more it will do to ensure every affected postmaster' is aware of their options for redress, according to the public accounts committee. The Government announced earlier this month that more than £1 billion has been paid out to subpostmasters across the Horizon-related schemes. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Many are still awaiting compensation. Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has described the scandal as 'one of the UK's worst ever miscarriages of justice' as 'thousands of people were failed deeply by the system'. Releasing the annual report into DBT and its accounts, Sir Geoffrey said: 'This Committee would have hoped to have found government laser-focused on ensuring all those eligible were fully and fairly compensated for what happened. 'It is deeply dissatisfactory to find these schemes still moving far too slowly, with no government plans to track down the majority of potential claimants who may not yet be aware of their proper entitlements.' According to the findings of the report released on Wednesday, DBT does not 'yet have clarity' on the number of claims that could be submitted under the Horizon Shortfall scheme, or the value of claims that could come forward under the convictions redress scheme. The committee have said that the department should 'outline what more it will do to ensure every affected postmaster is fully aware of their options for making a claim under the Horizon Shortfall and Horizon Convictions Redress Schemes'. They also say that officials should lay out how they plan to deal with remaining cases under the convictions scheme in particular. According to figures released by the DBT earlier in June, £559 million has been paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme. The data also says that of the 492 subpostmasters who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court between 2017 and 2019 that have not been convicted, also known as the Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO), 488 have received £167 million between them. Elsewhere, £245 million has been paid out to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation put in place last summer, and £68 million has been paid to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts. A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: 'This report is based on a period from before last year's election. 'Since then, this Government has quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters to provide them with full and fair redress, with more than £1 billion having now been paid to thousands of claimants. 'We will consider the recommendations and work with the Post Office, who have already written to over 24,000 postmasters, to ensure that everyone who may be eligible for redress is given the opportunity to apply for it.'
North Wales Chronicle
25-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Post Office compensation still moving far too slowly, say MPs
The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) needs to 'outline what more it will do to ensure every affected postmaster' is aware of their options for redress, according to the public accounts committee. The Government announced earlier this month that more than £1 billion has been paid out to subpostmasters across the Horizon-related schemes. Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty Horizon accounting software made it look as though money was missing from their accounts. Many are still awaiting compensation. Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has described the scandal as 'one of the UK's worst ever miscarriages of justice' as 'thousands of people were failed deeply by the system'. Releasing the annual report into DBT and its accounts, Sir Geoffrey said: 'This Committee would have hoped to have found government laser-focused on ensuring all those eligible were fully and fairly compensated for what happened. 'It is deeply dissatisfactory to find these schemes still moving far too slowly, with no government plans to track down the majority of potential claimants who may not yet be aware of their proper entitlements.' According to the findings of the report released on Wednesday, DBT does not 'yet have clarity' on the number of claims that could be submitted under the Horizon Shortfall scheme, or the value of claims that could come forward under the convictions redress scheme. The committee have said that the department should 'outline what more it will do to ensure every affected postmaster is fully aware of their options for making a claim under the Horizon Shortfall and Horizon Convictions Redress Schemes'. They also say that officials should lay out how they plan to deal with remaining cases under the convictions scheme in particular. According to figures released by the DBT earlier in June, £559 million has been paid out to 6,337 claimants from the Horizon shortfall scheme. The data also says that of the 492 subpostmasters who joined Sir Alan Bates in taking the Post Office to court between 2017 and 2019 that have not been convicted, also known as the Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO), 488 have received £167 million between them. Elsewhere, £245 million has been paid out to 463 subpostmasters who had their convictions quashed by legislation put in place last summer, and £68 million has been paid to those who have had their convictions quashed in the courts. A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: 'This report is based on a period from before last year's election. 'Since then, this Government has quadrupled the total amount paid to affected postmasters to provide them with full and fair redress, with more than £1 billion having now been paid to thousands of claimants. 'We will consider the recommendations and work with the Post Office, who have already written to over 24,000 postmasters, to ensure that everyone who may be eligible for redress is given the opportunity to apply for it.'
