Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Ongoing uncertainty in Horizon schemes over claimant numbers and complex claim values.
Conclusion
The Department told us that it is confident the level of uncertainty over the number of potential claimants in HSS will reduce over the 2025–26 financial year. The uncertainty over the number of potential claimants within the HSS was a key reason for the C&AG’s qualification of the Annual Report and Accounts 2023–24. For HCRS, the uncertainty over the claim values was a key reason for the C&AG’s qualification.17 The Department confirmed there is ongoing uncertainty over the value of the smaller number of fully assessed claims within the HCRS, as they are expected to take longer to resolve.18
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's implicit recommendation for reducing uncertainty in the redress schemes, setting an Autumn 2025 target. It will finalise letters for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) by September 2025, review a recommended HSS closure date, and write to HCRS eligible individuals who haven't registered by end of September 2025 to encourage participation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2025 1.2 The Department for Business and Trade (the department) is working with the Post Office to finalise letters to be sent to remaining eligible claimants in Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS). Approximately 24,000 have been sent out already, but further work is taking place with DWP to identify the addresses of the remaining postmasters. This is expected to be implemented by September 2025. 1.3 Sir Wyn Williams, the Chair of the Horizon IT Inquiry, has recommended through Vol 1 of the Horizon IT Inquiry report that a closure date of midnight on 27 November 2025 be set for the HSS. As with all recommendations raised in this report, the department is reviewing this and will provide a response by 10 October 2025, if not sooner. Should a closure date be agreed, the department would expect that claimants would be comprehensively communicated with so that they are aware of this deadline and how they can apply, noting the ongoing work to finalise letters referenced in paragraph 1.2. 1.4 On the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS), the relevant justice authority informs individuals who have had their convictions overturned by the legislation. This is the point at which they are informed that they are eligible for redress. The department is aware that not all recipients of these letters have registered with HCRS. The department will write to all individuals who have received a letter but are yet to register for redress, to encourage them to do so. We aim to complete this by the end of September 2025.