Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted in Part
Lack of follow-up letters to unapplied Horizon Shortfall Scheme claimants raises settlement delay concerns.
Recommendation
We were concerned about the potential for further delay of settlements if letters which had not yet received a reply were not being followed up. We therefore asked the Department whether any chasing up of letters had occurred where no response had been received.19 The Department explained that it did not believe the Post Office had sent any chaser letters to those who have not yet applied for the HSS. For the HCRS, which the Department administers, the Department was concerned that individuals receiving letters would feel harassed if they had a series of letters asking 12 Q 7; Correspondence from Department for Business and Trade, 2 May 2025 13 Q 1 14 Q 8 15 Department for Business and Trade, Post Office Horizon financial redress data as of 31 March 2025, May 2025 16 Q 1 17 DBT ARA 2023–24, pp 108-110 18 Qq 2, 11 19 Qq 4-9 10 the same thing.20 The Department however agreed to consult the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board on the suggestion that follow-up letters should be sent to potential Horizon Shortfall Scheme applicants who have not yet applied for redress.21 The Department also told us that there is no closure date set for HSS as letters were still being issued.22 Management of the Overturned Convictions Scheme
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's concern regarding follow-up letters for HSS. While not explicitly confirming the consultation with the Advisory Board, it commits to finalizing letters for remaining HSS claimants by September 2025 and will write to unregistered HCRS individuals by September 2025 to encourage registration.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
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.