Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
Complexity may delay claims from 25 individuals until 2026 despite interim payments.
Conclusion
The Department told us it is possible that claims may not be received for the remaining 25 eligible individuals until into 2026 due to the complexity of their cases. The Department hopes however that these 25 individuals will feel more comfortable in engaging in the process once it is no longer 20 Q 8 21 Correspondence from Department for Business and Trade, 2 May 2025 22 Q 10 23 HC 341 Post Office and Horizon scandal redress: Unfinished business, 1 January 2025; HC 778 Post Office Horizon scandal redress: Unfinished business: Government response, 25 March 2025 24 Qq 16, 20 25 Post Office and Horizon scandal redress: Unfinished business 26 DBT, Post Office Horizon financial redress data as of 31 March 2025, May 2025 11 managed by the Post Office.27 The Department told us that these individuals have received an interim payment of £200,000, with a further £250,000 payment to be made on receipt of a claim.28 Financial sustainability of the Post Office
Government Response Summary
The government has transferred claims to the new Department-delivered Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS) from June 2025, outlining enhanced case management processes and committing to publish further guidance by the end of Summer 2025 to address complex cases and improve claimant engagement.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2025 2.2 From 3 June 2025, claims within the Post Office-delivered Overturned Convictions (OC) scheme claims were transferred across to be administered under the Department-delivered Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme, and the OC scheme closed. The department confirms that the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme will apply the same principles as the previous OC scheme, ensuring no OC claimant is disadvantaged by the transfer to HCRS. 2.3 HCRS aims to identify delays and move cases forward, similar to the OC scheme, with case management processes and an independent panel. Case management involves resolving disputes with an independent party when bilateral agreement is not reached. Dentons (law firm) and Sir Gary Hickinbottom (retired Court of Appeal judge) will manage cases as needed. Sir Gary will cover both pecuniary and non-pecuniary aspects of claims. Before case management, the department will engage with claimants' legal representatives to resolve claims early. 2.4 In addition to the above which answers the Committee’s recommendation, there is a further recommendation from Sir Wyn Williams for a public announcement clarifying any differences in the financial redress process between HCRS and OC, we will publish further guidance on the roles of Dentons and Sir Gary Hickinbottom, as well as on the Alternative Dispute Resolution process, by the end of Summer 2025. The department is engaging with OC claimants' legal representatives, hoping Sir Wyn Williams' recent Inquiry report will encourage them to submit their claims for consideration by the department and the independent panel.