Post Office compensation 'should be paid by August', minister says, as 130 more victims come forward

10 January 2024, 08:16 | Updated: 10 January 2024, 12:42

By Kieran Kelly

@kellyjourno

All victims in the Post Office Horizon scandal should receive their compensation payments by August, the post office minister has told LBC.

Kevin Hollinrake told LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast that 130 more victims had come forward since the new ITV drama 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' aired, which has brought the Horizon scandal back into the limelight.

Mr Hollinrake confirmed speculation that the Government was "actively considering" overturning the convictions of all sub-postmasters, though added that doing so would be legally complicated.

"There is a separation of powers for a reason.. some lawyers think we should, some think we shouldn't. It's a difficult decision...We need to take advice on that," he told LBC.

He continued: "We are disappointed with the speed of progress so far. Overturning the convictions is a critical thing, we hope to come to a decision very shortly. It will be this week."

Watch again 10/01: Nick Ferrari is joined by the Postal Minister

The new ITV drama has enraged the nation as it told the story of how hundreds of Post Office workers were wrongly given criminal convictions after faulty software made it look as though money was missing.

Mr Hollinrake told LBC it was "shocking, brutal horrendous" how former sub-postmasters were treated and said the ITV documentary was "very well done" and "highly accurate".

Read More: Calls for Paula Vennells to return Post Office bonuses as IT expert behind software demands immunity

Read More: Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells was 'shortlisted to be Bishop of London'

The show detailed how former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells led the institution as it prosecuted hundreds of sub-postmasters.

It led to more than a million Brits calling for Ms Vennells to return her CBE, a move supported by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which the former CEO confirmed she would do on Tuesday.

There have also been calls for Ms Vennells to return any bonuses she received during her time as Post Office boss.

While Mr Hollinrake said he thought it was right that Ms Vennells should return her CBE, he also warned against 'trial by media' when asked about whether she return her bonuses.

An inquiry into the Horizon scandal was established in 2020 and is still ongoing.

Mr Hollinrake said a variety of "sanctions" could be used once the inquiry concludes, which may range from "financial penalties" to "criminal prosecutions".

This may implicate Fujitsu, the technology company whose flawed Horizon IT system gave the false impression that sub-postmasters had stolen money from the Post Office.

It recently posted profits of £22 million, paying out millions of pounds in salary and bonuses to directors, The Guardian reports.

Mr Hollinrake confirmed that the Government will look at "whether they [Fujitsu] might make a contribution to the compensation schemes" after the inquiry concludes.

The architect of the faulty IT system, Gareth Jenkins, has already given evidence defending the system in a number of cases.

He is understood to have since demanded immunity before agreeing to appear at the public inquiry, having twice sought a guarantee that any testimony he gives cannot be used against him in a possible prosecution.