Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
1st Report - Post Office and Horizon scandal redress: Unfinished business
Business and Trade Committee
HC 341
Published 1 January 2025
Recommendations
4
Accepted
Instruct Post Office Ltd and Herbert Smith Freehills to simplify and accelerate claims settlement.
Recommendation
The gold-plated legalistic process of the Horizon Shortfall Scheme is not best value for the public purse. The Government should therefore ensure that Herbert Smith Freehills and Post Office Ltd are instructed to use best endeavours to simplify and accelerate …
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Government Response Summary
The government agreed with the recommendation, stating they have already advised the Post Office and HSF to simplify and accelerate claims and continue to reiterate this importance through governance.
Department for Business and Trade
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6
Accepted
Establish an empowered case facilitator role for Horizon Shortfall Scheme claimants.
Recommendation
Claimants under the Horizon Shortfall Scheme lack the same access to authoritative facilitation and case management direction available to claimants in other schemes. This can be remedied by introducing an empowered case facilitator similar to the role played by the …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating the Post Office is committed to exploring the appointment of a case manager for the HSS, and the government will appoint one for the HSS Appeals process and remaining HSS Dispute Resolution Process cases.
Department for Business and Trade
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17
Accepted
Publish clear, regular transparency report detailing external legal costs across all redress schemes.
Recommendation
The Department should publish a regular transparency report detailing external legal costs incurred under all schemes. It is important that the report is produced in a manner that minimises the potential for wider confusion about the basis under which legal …
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Government Response Summary
The government commits to publishing a quarterly transparency report detailing external legal costs on gov.uk, building on previous updates provided to the Committee.
Department for Business and Trade
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