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From: "Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)" ¢
Sent: Tue 03/10/2023 11:41:00 AM (UTC)
To: "Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)" <_
"Carl CRESWELL (DBT)" n FRAIS (DBT)*
ce: "Emily SNOW= "Anna KERE (DBT)"
i ie E (DBT)"
~~", "David BICKERTON (DBT)"
GRO : >, "Joshua SCOTT! (DBT)"
"Megan ALEXANDER (DBT)"
, "Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)"
James LOVESEY (DBT)"
Spad Contact
Subject: RE: [Read out] Post Office 'Home' meeting
Hi Rose, Carl,
Just to say that re point 3 below, Minister Hollinrake’s preference would be for us to update our letter to the CX
asking them to reconsider a higher scrutiny threshold for GLO claimants.
Best,
Guy
#8 Guy Brindle I Head of Office and Senior Private Secretary to Kevin Hollinrake MP
‘is Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business
Department for Dep: § and Trade I Old Adm
. -mai
Business & Trade Gisatgovuk So
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) <.
Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 10:22 AM
To: Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Anna KERE (DBT)
llie DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
} David BICKERTON (DBT)
D
Megan ALEXANDER (DBT) ‘ob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
">; Brooks-White
; Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT)
ecca STOCKBRIDGE (DBT)
; Ciara LAWRENCE (
>; Ed BAIRD (DBT]
Subject: RE: [Read out] Post Office 'Home' meeting
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Hi Carl,
Thanks v much again for the below.
Conscious SpAds have had some comments on the visit proposal, which @Simon FRAIS (DBT) is kindly picking up.
In the more immediate term, SoS has said that she would like to keep the invite to Fujitsu high level, and not to
mention anything re Horizon to Fujitsu until after they have accepted the meeting. Does that work? In the meantime,
would be great to work up that handling advice into a broader term handling plan that we can put to SoS next week in
box?
I’ve put in a weekly meeting for us to catch up on all things post office, so happy to pick up next steps on the above
today if people can make the first slot (today at 4pm).
Many thanks,
Rose
Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
a
I red Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
” London I SW1A 2BL
From: Carl CRESWELL (DBT) ¢
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 2:34 PM
To: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) q
Natalie MCGUIGAN
Simon FRAIS (DBT)
Minister HOLLINRAKE
Anna KERE (DBT)
(DBT)
David BICKERTON (DBT)
; Joshua SCOTT (DBT) ¢
‘ob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
Perm SEC (DBT) <)
5 Bi
Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT) <
Kieran
>; Ciara LAWRENCE (DBT)
James LOVESEY (DBT)
Ed BAIRD (DBT)
j
Spad Contact
Subject: RE: [Read out] Post Office 'Home' meeting
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Rose,
Thanks for following up on this. We were pleased with how the announcement went too.
On point (1), Euan Edwards sent up a proposal for the Japan visit yesterday (attached here for ease). Our
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aim in the immediate term is to secure formal agreement from SoS that she would like to hold a meeting
with Fujitsu, so that arrangements can be put into place. We are separately discussing the negotiation
strategy within DBT and across Government so would provide more detailed handling advice ahead of the
meeting. If SoS is content to do the meeting, David Bickerton would speak to the UK head of Fujitsu
(EMEA) to lay the ground.
On (2), Simon Frais has emailed to confirm that a Post Office visit proposal is on its way. The Post Office
CEO would be happy to host SoS if we can make it work at our end.
On (3), the CST has approved in principle a higher scrutiny threshold for Group Litigation Order (GLO)
claimants. He has tasked his officials with agreeing a sensible level with us, rather than picking a figure
such as £100k or £50k. Our current scrutiny policy is rather restrictive and just covers up to £10k shortfalls,
so moving to a higher and less restrictive threshold as soon as possible would be useful and enable us to
process more claims more quickly.
This leaves the question of our proposed upfront offer of £100k, which the Chancellor is resisting on the
basis of concerns about precedent for other compensation schemes, as well as potential repercussions.
As we explained ahead of the recent SoS meeting, we floated the idea of a £75k upfront payment with
HMT officials, but were again rebuffed as a matter of HMT principle. Our understanding is that the CST is
sympathetic to our proposals from a political perspective but feels unable to go further, because of advice
from HMT officials about the impact on other compensation schemes (e.g. Infected Blood) and the strong
views of the Chancellor.
I would be grateful for Ministers’ views on handling, please. In addition to reaching agreement at official
level to an amended scrutiny threshold (even a level of £40k would enable us to process a significant
number of GLO cases more rapidly), Minister Hollinrake/SoS could consider writing to HMT Ministers to
represent the case and ask them again to reconsider. I would prefer not to hold up progressing the
scrutiny threshold because we are processing cases every week and it may take a while for that political
conversation to reach a conclusion.
I hope this gives you enough to go on for your update to SoS (copied to Guy too because it would be good
to sight Minister Hollinrake), but please let me know if you need a redrafted letter at this stage.
Thanks,
Carl.
ee Carl Creswell I Director, Business Resilience
.
Department for
Business & Trade
OFFIC.
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 1:44 PM
Natalie MCGUIGAN (DBT)
Anna KERE (DBT)
Ellie DELABEDOVERE (DBT)
b; David BICKERTON (DBT)
t Joshua SCOTEI(DBT) <_
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“GRO
Perm SEC (DBT)
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
Kieran
rooks-White Jobshare ¢
Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT) <
“Rebecca STOCKBRIDGE (DBT)
Ciara LAWRENCE (DBT)
Spad Contact
Subject: RE: [I
Hiall,
Firstly — major thank you again for all the hard work that went into getting the 600k announcement for OC and the
continued hard work in delivering it. SoS and SpAds were very pleased with how it went and grateful to the teams
hard work in bringing it forward.
I just wanted to check where we were with the actions below? Would be keen to give SoS a bit of an update tomorrow
in box on when she can expect:
1. Fujitsu game plan, plus advice on meeting with Fujitsu
2. Post Office visit proposal
3. Updated letter for the CX on GLO
Very happy to have a quick call if helpful.
Many thanks,
Rose
ao
pS Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL I,
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2023 6:11 PM
To: Carl CRESWELL (DBT) ¢ GRO. “"}; Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
simon FRAIs (DBT) 4
Kieran
Subject: [Read out] Post Office 'Home' meeting
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Thanks all very much for attending the Post Office ‘home’ meeting today.
Please see a read out of high-level steers and actions from the meeting below.
Attendees:
* Gareth Davies
* David Bickerton
* Carl Cresswell
© Emily Snow
« Jamie Lucas
« Ryan Hanley
* Rose Lasko-Skinner
Steers from SoS/Actions:
1. SoS agreed to Minister Hollinrake leading the announcement for a fixed rate of £600k on Monday via an Oral
Statement in the House. @ Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT) to lead the announcement, following SpAd steers to
accept HMT conditions.
2. SoS would like to know what the Post Office questions will be in the Business and Trade Select Committee
will be and have a fuller briefing on the OC announcement in the briefing session. Looping in @ Natalie
MCGUIGAN (DBT) who’s leading from SoSPO.
3. SoS agreed to delaying sending the response letter to the CX until after the overturned convictions
announcement on Monday. @Carl CRESWELL (DBT) and team to provide advice on this next week for @ Minister
HOLLINRAKE (DBT) and SoS on next steps for GLO following response to fixed payment for OCs.
4. SoS agreed to meet Fujitsu in Japan to open conversations about their financial penalty for the failure of
Horizon IT. Post Office team to put together more detailed advice in a submission on a handling plan for Fujitsu
engagement. Looping in @Natalie MCGUIGAN (DBT) from a Vistis PoV.
5. SoS wanted to be clear that a Strategic Review should review from the ground up and consider what a
modern Post Office should look like, rather than focusing on the number of Post Offices that are open.
6. SoS would like to visit/ see the Post Office in action to speak to postmasters and understand and better
contextualise the operation/IT/funding requests. This needs to be organised before SoS visits Japan. Looping in_
@Simon FRAIS (DBT) from a visits perspective
Please do flag if I have missed anything — or there is anything you’d like clarified.
Many thanks,
Rose
Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
From: Carl CRESWELL (DBT) ¢
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2023 1:32 PM
To: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
>; Minister HOLLINRAKE
Anna KERE (DBT)
DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
David BICKERTON (DBT)
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OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Rose,
Thanks very much for this helpful write-up — and for your guidance ahead of last week’s meeting.
An update on the planned compensation announcement:
¢ The OC proposal of £600k remains with HMT. Their officials have told me that they are going to
recommend that HMT Ministers agree to it. We have prepared draft comms products, ahead of a
potential announcement to coincide with the Select Committee session next Tuesday, as SoS
requested. In order to get there, we will need help with No 10 (grid) and getting an answer from
HMT. Could you / Ellie consider contact your No 10 and HMT opposite numbers to explain that
our SoS would like to make the announcement next Tuesday and requesting their help on
clearances, please? Emily Snow in my team is talking to the Parliamentary team about whether we
should also request an oral statement slot, since I understand we need to tell the whole House not
just the Committee.
« We continue to await a reply from HMT on the GLO-related ideas (fixed payment and scrutiny
threshold). I talked to HMT, as SoS requested, about the potential counterproposal of £75k for the
fixed payment, lower than £100k. They remain of the view that this wouldn’t be acceptable because
the Chancellor’s concern is about the precedent, not the quantum. We need to decide whether to
write back at Ministerial level to request the £75k or not — it sounded like SoS didn’t want to write
unless we were more confident it would be accepted. Our analysts are working up the data and we
can offer a revised letter, if you would still like one, as part of the advice that you’ve requested below.
* On the GLO scrutiny threshold, we are expecting a reply from HMT early this week. Their officials
have told me that the CST is likely to agree the idea in principle but will say the threshold should be
lower than £50k (and tasking HMT and DBT officials to agree the specific number). This clearly
would reduce how useful the intervention would be and Ministers may wish to push back. Since we
weren't planning to announce it in next week’s package, it may be best to focus our efforts on the OC
aspect this week and write back to HMT on the GLO after Thursday's meeting to try to land a better
solution for that compensation scheme.
We are preparing to put up the draft comms products etc ahead of Thursday’s meeting and are in
discussion with corporate services colleagues about the Fujitsu points, so we can take stock with SoS then.
Many thanks,
Carl.
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Carl Creswell I Director, Business Resilience
Department for Business and Trade I 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET
Department for Tel: II E-mai
Business & Trade
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT) ¢
>; Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services
>; Ellie DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
David BICKERTON (DI
Megan ALEXANDER (DBT) <_
>; Perm SEC (DBT)
d
B
; Brooks-White Jobshare ¢.
Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT)
Ciara LAWRENCE (DBT)
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi all,
First up, a huge thank you to all those involved in the Post Office ‘Home’ team meeting yesterday. It was a really well
run session, which hit the perfect level of detail for SoS so thank you all very much.
Please see below the read out and actions from the session. Given our drop-dead deadline is having something to
announce before the Select Committee (which could be as soon as two weeks), we’re aiming to have a further ‘home’
team meeting on Thursday (with 15mins to cover the wider funding picture at the end). Will try and get that pinned
down ASAP.
Do let me know if I have missed anything or if you have any further questions.
Many thanks,
Rose
Post Office — ‘Home’ team meeting
Wednesday 6" September 16:45-17:30
Attendees:
¢ Minister Hollinrake
° Gareth Davies
° David Bickerton
° Carl Creswell (Director)
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© Rob Brightwell (DD)
e Eleanor Brooks (DD)
* Beth White (DD)
e Ryan Hanley
° PO
ACTIONS:
1. Post Office team to provide advice for Minister Hollinrake and the Secretary of State covering two
key points below by 9am Thursday 14* September. Please note that the Secretary of State has asked that
the advice provide options that she can announce before the next Select Committee (date TBC).
a. How SoS/DBT can speed up holding Fujistu to account for their role in the Horizon IT failure.
This should include litigious options alongside other approaches such as asking the company to
voluntarily and proactively provide funds and ending future HMG/ current Post Office contracts
with Fujitsu. Conscious the latter would have high legal risks but good to include given SoS’
ambition in this space. Please can this advice also be cleared/come with comments from Perm
Sec.
b. How SoS/DBT can best respond to the CX’s concerns about fairness and value for money for
the GLO compensation fixed price proposal. This should include exploring other fixed payment
thresholds, such as £75k or £50k, and assessing whether these would secure CX backing. N.B. SoS.
does not want to offer lower thresholds unless DBT can be sure that the CX will agree to them.
i.As part of this, the team should test new thresholds with Treasury officials to gauge
potential landing zones.
2. Post Office team to draft a response letter to the CX to be shared in parallel with the advice above.
This should:
a. Lead with the progress DBT has made in dealing with the Horizon IT failure so far, flagging
where DBT has been particularly effective in delivering for postmasters and vfm.
b. In line with the advice in 1b, defend our current position and/or offer alternative options to
speeding up compensation schemes [As above, SoS does not want to offer lower fixed payment
thresholds unless DBT can be sure that the CX will agree to them.] We should clarify the benefits
of the fixed fee approach (such as speed and less legal fees).
c. Include recommended approach in the advice (1a) that DBT will be using to hold Fujitsu
account - flagging the reputational savings for HMG as a result.
High level steers:
e SoS said there is more space for us to be punchier. SoS would like to see a markedly different
approach which prioritises getting compensation to those who are entitled to it as soon as possible.
e SoS agrees with Minister Hollinrake on the fixed price, with the underlying principle that it is more
important to get the money to people who were owed it than overpay some. There would never be a
perfect formula so we should prioritise pace and reaching those who have experienced extreme harm,
rather than stalling.
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e SoS would like to have something to demonstrate the work we are doing in the next Select
Committee. She would like the advice to come quickly — demonstrating to Treasury (a) that we have
made progress and (b) that we are looking at other avenues, such as holding Fujitsu to account.
Continuing, SoS asked if we should include lower thresholds for the GLO schemes.
ao
ps Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
“the Department for Busines: ade I Old Admiralty Building I
Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT) 4 }
Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services
Ellie DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
“b; David BICKERTON
Joshua SCOTT (DBT)
Ce:
Directorate)
Rebecca STOCKBRIDGE (DBT)
COMMISSION] Post Office - didate for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Please find attached final version.
Please see Carl’s email for the draft letter.
Emily Snow I Post Office Compensation I Business Resilience
Department for Business and Trade I Tel
From: Carl CRESWELL (DBT) <
>; Kieran
Rebecca STOCKBRIDGE (DBT)
iara LAWRENCE (DBT)
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Subje COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Apologies — please use this version!
Thanks,
Carl.
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Sent: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 12:35 PM
iara LAWRENCE (DBT)
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Rose,
Thanks for your ongoing help with this.
Attached is our redraft of the letter to the Chancellor, taking account of Minister Hollinrake’s feedback that
we should be less direct and ask for a meeting to discuss that aspect.
Emily will let you have the final version of the slides ahead of the meeting.
See you then,
Carl.
Pend Carl Creswell I Director, Business Resilience
i 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET
Department for
Business & Trade
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) ¢
Sent: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 11:37 AM
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Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT) ¢
Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services
Ellie DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
David BICKERTON (DBT)
Kieran
Rebecca STOCKBRIDGE (DBT) <_ Ciara LAWRENCE (DBT)
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Good morning Emily,
Thank you so much for such speedy updates — looking excellent.
Only further comments:
1. GLO intervention (slide 14) — do we not have the CX letter, which we either need to respond to or organise a
meeting with?
2. On that note, do we have an updated draft of the letter or a slide in line with @Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)’s
comments? My sense is we should assume time in the meeting to have a discussion with SoS-Hollinrake to
agree whether to send a letter/have a meeting with CX, if they are agreed on fixed 100k.
3. Funding qs — would be ready to include a bit of colour/ context on the issues that Post Office faces and why it
is asking for such a big subsidy.
Thank you,
Rose
Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
Department for Busin Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL i
From: Emily SNOW-4 (DBT) {
Sent: Wednesday, pays 6, 2023 8:55 AM
Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
4 “GRO _
Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services
Ellie DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
; David BICKERTON (DBT)
Cc: Anna KERE (DBT)
Directorate) ¢
Brooks-White Jobshare ¢
Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT)
Ciara LAWRENCE (DBT)
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Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Morning Rose,
Thank you for the feedback and talking us through. Please find updated slides attached.
Many thanks,
Emily
Emily Snow I Post Office Compensation I Business Resilience
Department for Business and Trade I Tel:
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Carl CRESWELL (DBT) <_
Sent: Tuesday, September 5, 2023 3:07 PM
To: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
3; Emily SNOW/ (DBT)
Cc: Anna KERE (DBT)
Directorate)
i
EF Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services
>; Ellie DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
David BICKERTON (DBT)
b; Joshua SCOTT (DBT) ¢
Perm SEC (DBT)
Brooks-White Jobshare <_
Subject: Re: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi Rose,
Thanks for the comments!
Happy to meet at 4.45pm. Could you send a scheduler to me and Emily, plus Rob and Brooks-white Jo share as
optionals, please?
Carl
Sent from Outlook for iOS
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) <
Sent: Tuesday, Septembe!
Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
_p; Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services
Directoral Ellie DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
4 GRO >; David BICKERTON (DBT)
Megan ALEXANDER (DBT) ; Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
Perm SEC (DBT) Minister
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HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
“b; Kieran BROCKEN (DBT)
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT) <
jarry FALLOWFIELD (DBT)
Rebecca STOCKBRIDGE (DBT)
}; Ciara LAWRENCE (DBT)
Brooks-White Jobshare
Subject E: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi all,
Thanks so much for such speedy delivery on this — SoS will be really grateful. This is a great first cut of the slides.
Please see my comments below in line with SoS’ style/preferences for the ‘Home’ team meetings, hopefully helpful.
General
* Pedantic but important point — slides need page numbers as SoS will read through them and we need to all
be on the same page
* Would encourage having an agenda or contents to page to manage expectations for SoS and other Ministers
in terms of breadth and depth of presentation (i.e. how much we have to cover in the presentation — it would
be good to talk to aims of the meeting i.e. agree a way forward for speeding up the compensation schemes
(radically) and give SoS early sight on the funding and strategy requests for the Post Office that'll be coming
down the line and get any early steers.
* Asarule of thumb it is helpful to assume that SoS is new to the details on all of this — particularly the
breakdown of the compensation schemes so would be ready to speak from a high level on this
Compensation schemes
© Structurally:
© You could swap 4&5 to give SoS background on compensation schemes upfront to contextualise
progress
© Slide 13 — you could weave the proposals into the main body e.g. the GLO claimants recommendation
into or just after the slide on live issues. N.B. it might make sense to more clearly split part 1 by scheme
with the recommendations following the progress slide of each scheme
* Slides 6,7,8 — data visuals are super helpful but might be goof to change the colouring so that it is obvious
whether it is ‘good’ progress or not — or be ready to speak to high level ‘good progress/ more concerning’ so
that SoS can get her head around it quickly
© Slide 9 — might be helpful to capture/ tease out what the blocker is to all the eligible claims being paid (i.e.
what is the problem we’re trying to solve when we say ‘speed up compensation claims’?)
© Slide 10,11,12 — the issue column is a bit unclear; ‘mitigation/Response’ — would be good to clarify what DBT
has done and then the outcome of said action. My sense is some of the terms are q technical (e.g. Submission of
350+ Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs)) so might be good to have a footnote at the bottom of the slide
explaining what it is
* SoS asked for a ‘red button’ option — can we more clearly sign post which policies being proposed are ‘red
buttons’ — my sense is this is the most important part of the presentation (a) what is the most effective policy
for speeding up compensation schemes and (b) how do we deliver on it so keen that we clarify that (we don’t
have to use the ‘red button’ term but just needs to be answering SoS’ question from the delivery meeting) and
as part of this (c) what do we need from SoS to do this?
Funding
© There are no questions/steers for SoS here? Is it worth testing the direction of travel here?
* Slide 16,17, generally — the phase 1 and 2 of the funding requests are quick to go into the technical detail —
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could be worth making it more high-level/punchy on the headline figures, our assessment of how realistic they
are, and the timeline for responding to the requests.
Conscious these may look like a lot of comments but the content is all there — just suggestions on how best to land it
with SoS! Very happy to discuss these comments later over teams? Say 16:45? Let me know and I can send over the
teams.
Thank you all v much,
Rose
Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL I
From: Emily SNOW (DBT) é
Sent: Tuesday, September 5,
To: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) ¢ >; Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
} Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services
ERE (DBT)
David BICKERTON (DBT)
Megan ALEXANDER (DBT) ‘ob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
Minister
HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Rose,
With thanks to those in copy, please see attached slides for the SoS Home Meeting with Post Office Team. Please let
us know if any feedback.
Many thanks,
Emily
Emily Snow I Post Office Compensation I Bi
Department for Business and Trade I Tel:
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
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Sent: Monday, September 4, 2023 3:24 PM
To: Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Cc: Anna KERE (DBT) <
Directorate) <
Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services
Ellie DELABEDOYERE (DBT)
David BICKERTON (L
toe GRO
Megan ALEXANDER (DBT)
“Subject: E: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi Carl,
Thank you very much for your response below, and apologies for the cross over of our emails.
Happy to be led by you on the best approach for responding to the letter — if it is draft a response sooner than the
‘Home’ team meeting then that sounds good. Will make sure SpAds are sighted on the letter, who will want to review
our response letter before it goes to SoS.
The timing for the ‘Home’ team meeting is this Wednesday 17:00-17:30 07/09/2023, apologies that this has not been
sent to you yet. I will make sure you are on the invite.
Noted on the pre-meeting — perhaps we can aim to have sight of the slides Tuesday 12pm followed by a pre-meet,
then any changes can be made Wednesday before the meeting in the afternoon? Happy to bring timings forward if
manageable.
Many thanks,
Rose
Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL
From: Carl CRESWELL(DBT){ GRO... I
Sent: Monday, September 4, 2023 2:
To: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Ce: Anna KERE (DBT,
Directorate) ¢
Rob
ice - update for SoS DBT
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OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Rose,
Thanks for passing this on. I can confirm that we have received the feedback from today’s delivery
meeting and are preparing draft slides for this week’s ‘Home’ meeting.
On correspondence with the CX, I have obtained a side-copy of the CX’s reply (though not the signed
version), as attached. I’m sharing it on a confidential basis because it doesn’t appear to have been
received by DBT formally yet. The reply is supportive in tone, but negative about the GLO £100k threshold
idea. We could either position our SoS letter as a pre-emptive chaser or a swift follow-up to the CX’s
letter. The substance for both is likely to be nearly identical and we have already started work on a draft. I
am assuming that Ministers will want to press the case again for the £100k threshold, as well as pushing
our other ideas. It may be wise for SoS to write sooner than our meeting.
I would be happy to touch on this in the margins of the SoS’s ‘Home’ meeting on regulatory reform, which
I'm attending later, if useful.
Could you also consider sighting Spads on the attached reply, in case they want to have a word with HMT
counterparts, please?
On the Post Office ‘Home’ meeting, I would be grateful if you could let us know when you have a time in
diaries, please. A pre-meeting would be helpful once we have draft slides, if that’s ok.
Carl.
Pd Carl Creswell I Director, Business Resilience
Betty Dep: i d Trade I 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H OET
Teli__
Department for
Business & Trade
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) <
Sent: Monday, September 4, 2023 2:04 PM
To: Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
BRIGHTWELL (DBT) :
Cc: Anna KERE (DBT)
GRO Elena MICHAEL (DBT)
i Sectors - Services Di
Kieran
Hi all,
Thanks v much for the work ongoing on this. I just wanted to confirm (a) that this had been picked up and (b) make
sure that SoS’ steer on this in the delivery meeting have been picked up? These steers were:
1. To add in a ‘red button’ option for intervention in this space — SoS is keen to see an ambitious intervention in
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this space (i.e. an intervention that would mean that DBT could do to get the compensation schemes delivered
in a matter of weeks/ASAP)
2. Inline with this, SoS would like to write to CX or CST on the Post Office to request this ‘red button’ option —
could we bring a draft for SoS to review in the ‘Home’ team meeting please? Conscious that SoS recently wrote
to CX on the GLO so this letter would be an escalation letter/include options for speeding this up further.
Happy to be led by you if you think the next step would be to write to the PM.
Additionally, would be very happy to have a quick call this week to go through the above and answer any questions on
‘Home’ team meeting from content/expectation perspective if helpful? If so, let me know when suits and I’ll make
some space.
Many thanks,
Rose
Cy
rd Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
ts Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Sent: Thursday, August 31,
Rob
; David
. Rob
BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
Kieran
2) aot
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi Carl, Beth, Eleanor and Rob
CC: David and his office
As previously trailed, SoS would like a Home ‘team’ meeting on the Post Office.
Please can we have slides that cover:
1. Horizon — (i) Update on delivery; (ii) timing of compensation reaching individuals.
2. The longer-term funding proposal from the Post Office - and recommendation from
Gareth/David.
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It would be good to use this meeting to bring SoS up to speed on some of the background on the
Post Office issues — she has a high level overview and understanding, but she will be appearing
before the Business and Trade Select Committee where this undoubtedly will come up — and we
are expecting that SoS will want to be increasingly involved in the delivery of compensation over
autumn.
Some guidance on the slides: please ensure the slides include page numbers; and please include
questions on each slide - where steers from SoS would be helpful.
Deadline: SoS has asked for the meeting to be next week — we are working out timing but is likely
to be towards the end of the week. Please can you send up slides 4pm Tuesday allowing for
Gareth to review ahead of the meeting on Wednesday/Thursday.
David/Megan
Copying you into this, for awareness, and if you would like to attend the meeting David, please let
me know, this is optional, but you are very welcome to attend if so.
Best
Sharleene
q Sharleene Bibbings I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State (Locum)
* Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL I:
From: Ellie DELABEDOYERE (DBT) ¢ z
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2023 1:
ost Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi all,
We updated SoS today following this update and your notes — SoS was grateful for the update but has asked for a
short meeting focussed on the Post Office next week. The meeting should primarily focus on (1) Horizon, but also
cover (2) longer-term funding proposal/settlement.
SoS remains very concerned about the speed of delivery on (1) and so wants to be able to get into the detail of the
current plans, and ask questions etc during the Home meeting.
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Sharlene & Kieran in SoSPO will be in touch with an ask re slides for that meeting & cast list. @ Minister HOLLINRAKE
(DBT) & @Perm SEC (DBT) would be great to have the Minister and Gareth there.
Thanks,
Ellie
Ellie de la Bedoyere I PPS to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities [
avid BICKERTON (Bt) £
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi Josh
Thank you.
Best
Sharleene
From: Joshua SCOT# (DBT) ¢ GRO Ss
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2023 9:19 AM
To: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) ¢
BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
Cc: Perm SEC (DBT) < Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
RE (DBT)
Anna KERE (DBT) ; Elena MICHAEL (DBT)
~~ GRO ‘allowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services Directorate)
i GRO. I; David BICKERTON (DBT) {
Subject: E: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Sharleene,
We estimate that implementation of the fixed minimum payment would take 2-3 months. HMT officials
would require a new business case to approve the repercussive effects regarding the HSS. This needs to
go through internal DBT approvals prior to its submission. A Direction could be worked up alongside the
business case going through approvals so that once HMT have approved the business case, the Direction
can be issued and an announcement made. This approval window does however coincide with when we
expect to receive a significant number of claims which will need to be managed alongside the business
case.
Apologies for the delay.
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Any questions let me know.
Cheers,
Josh
Joshua Scott I Head of Post Office GLO Cor
Department for Business and Trade I Tel
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT) ¢ >;
3; Elena MICHAEL (DBT)
Business Sectors - Services Directorate)
Anna KERE (DBT)
Many thanks.
From: Emily SNOW} (DBT)!
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 3:
4; Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
llie DELABEDOYERE (DBT) {~
“>; Elena MICH,
Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services Directorate)
avid BICKERTON (DBT)
[COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Sharleene,
Apologies for the delay , my colleague Josh in copy will get back to you asap.
Many thanks,
Emily
Emily Snow I Post Office Compensation I Business Resilience
Department for Business and Trade I Tel
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
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From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 2:23 PM
To: Emily SNOW™(DBT) Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
“b; Brooks-White Jobshare
Joshua SCOTT} (DBT) ¢_
ci Perm SEC (DBT) >; Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
ERE (DBT) ¢
; Elena MICHAEL (DBT)
; Fallowfield, Harry (Business Sectors - Services Directorate)
avid BICKERTON (DBT)
Subject: RE: Office - update for SoS DBT
Anna KERE (DBT)
Hi Emily
I am covering for Rose and I am planning to send the update to SoS tommrow.
Appreciate we just had the bank holiday, how are things progressing on the additional question Rose asked?
Happy to jump on a call if that’s helpful.
Best
Sharleene
pe Sharleene Bibbings I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State (Locum)
‘ite? Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL I;
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
GRO
rooks-White Jobshare < GRO
Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
lena MICHAEL (DBT)
(Business Sectors - Services Directorate)
HI Emily,
Thanks for sending this over — really helpful. Just need the following clarifications before I can send to SoS:
© What would the window for the GLO announcement/implementation be for the fixed price be e.g. Is this 3
months minimum?
© As part of that what is the anticipated window for Treasury signing something like that off, and once
they do how long does it take to prepare a Ministerial Directive?
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Many thanks,
Rose
Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL f-
From: Emily SNO
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2023 5: 7
To: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) I
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
yee bs Brooks-White Jobshare
Joshua SCOTT (DBT)
Cc: Perm SEC (DBT) 4 GRO + Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Rose,
Apologies for the delay, please see answers to your Qs below:
How quickly can we announce GLO intervention and how long until the money is in the pockets of the victims?
* This would be subject to what agreement is reached with HMT.
* If the scrutiny threshold is approved our intention would not be to advertise the threshold explicitly as to not
encourage inflated claims up to the threshold value. Instead, we would encourage claims to be submitted and
assess them swiftly to further encourage claimants to submit their claims. Policy documents are already drafted
so this could be implemented in a matter of weeks.
* The approval for the fixed minimum payment may take longer: it is likely HMT officials will want to discuss
further the repercussive effects and a Direction should it be required will take time to prepare.
* Both options require claimants to submit claims. At present, the Department has only received 26 claims
(some of which partial).
Importance of speeding up the delivery between OC and GLO
* We had a strong steer from Minister Hollinrake to speed up the delivery of both OC and GLO and the primary
driver behind this is that Government wants to see the victims compensated fairly and swiftly. There has also
been public commentary from the Inquiry, Horizon Advisory Board, Parliamentarians and the media about the
slow pace of compensation. There are some additional nuances between GLO and OC, set out below.
* The GLO has a statutory deadline to deliver all compensation payments by August 2024. This timeline
remains challenging but either of the options set out in the advice would relieve some pressure. Officials
continue to explore with PBL potential legislative options to extend the deadline as contingency.
* Minister Hollinrake’s view on OC is that it is not currently meeting the departmental objective of swift
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compensation. Officials agreed with his view and recommended the intervention of the fixed sum to accelerate
delivery. Over 2 years have passed since the first convictions were overturned, with 86 overturned to date, and
only 5 full and final settlements reached. However swift progress has been made on non-pecuniary (personal)
damages with over 70 offers made. An additional driver is that the existing OC process is a complex quasi-
litigious process, which takes significant time to formulate and assess claims. This supports the rationale to
implement an optional, simpler route via a fixed sum.
Announcement
* Given the overlapping stakeholders and opportunity to announce a positive intervention, we think the
announcements would be packaged together. We will work with Communications with this in mind but if either
approval is delayed we may need to explore separate announcements.
Many thanks,
Emily
Emily Snow I Post Office Compensation I Bi
Department for Business and Trade I Tel:__
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2023 2:01 PM
To: Emily SNOW, DBT) © ~
Joshua SCOTT] (DBT) {
Cc: Perm SEC (DBT)
Anna KERE (DBT)
Excellent — thanks v much Emily.
Rose
ps Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
rie] Department for Busin le I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL [f 1
Sent: ‘Friday, August 25, 2023 1:47 PM
INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) ¢
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
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bn. ; David BICKERTON (DBT) <
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DB
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Rose,
Apologies for not confirming — yes will get back to you shortly.
Many thanks,
Emily
Emily Snow I Post Office Compensation I B
Department for Business and Trade I T
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) <_
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2023 1:46 PM
To: Emily SNOW: (DBT)
Joshua SCOTT! (DBT) rooks-White Jobshare ¢
Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
VERE (DBT) ¢
+ Elena MICHAEL (DBT)
(Business Sectors - Services Directorate)
p David BICKERTON (DBT) <
st Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi Emily, team,
May I confirm that this has been picked up?
Thanks v much,
Rose
Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL [-
fs
&
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2023 5:13 PM
To: Emily SNOW-i(DBT) 7
Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Joshua SCOTT! (DBT) rooks-White Jobshare / GRO I
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_Cc: Perm SEC (DBT) 3 Minister HOLLINRAKE (DBT)
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Hi Emily,
Thanks so much for your prompt responses. A quick question: if CX agreed with our approach on GLO — (a) how
quickly can we announce our intention to do this and then - more importantly - (b) how long until this money get into
the pockets of those who it is intended for?
Additionally, it would also be good to have a bit of the background on the importance of speeding up the different
(i.e. OC vs GLO schemes) and whether we’d announce our approaches to provide fixed payments at the same time or
separately?
Will send these additional updates to SoS tomorrow, so would v much appreciate some lines as soon as you can
tomorrow.
Many thanks,
Rose
Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
Department for Busin d Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL
From: Emily SNOW (DBT) {
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2023 5:23 PM
To: Secretar Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
; Elena MICHAEL (DBT)
Fallowfield, iiarry (Business Sectors - Services Directorate)
CKERTON (DBT) {
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Rose,
Please find attached note on Horizon Compensation requested by SoS.
Many thanks,
Emily
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Emily Snow I Post Office Compensation I Business Resilience
Department for Business and Trade I Tel: II E-mai
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Brooks-White Jobshare
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 6:04 PM .
To: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT) }
Ed BAIRD (DBT) 4
Beth WHITE (DBT) _
Katie MITCHELE
(DBT);
Rebecca STOCKBRIDGE (DBT)
Anna KERE (DBT) 4
Subject: RE: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
Rose
To confirm this has been picked up. We will probably split the ask into two v short notes if that’s ok? We will also
need to talk to you and other private offices about some approaches we’re now using on information security.
Eleanor
From: Secretary Of State INTERNATIONAL TRADE (DBT)
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 4:03 PM
To: Beth WHITE (DBT) 4
GRO
CRESWELL (DBT) «
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT) ¢
Cc: Perm SEC (DBT)
4
Anna KERE (DBT) <_ GRO ~
Subject: [COMMISSION] Post Office - update for SoS DBT
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi all,
I had a meeting this morning with the Secretary of State, which touched on: (1) Horizon - in particular the ongoing
work to speed up compensation for the GLO postmasters and (2) the broader long-term strategy and funding for the
Post Office. The Secretary of State was particularly concerned about the pace at which the compensation schemes are
being delivered and is keen to ensure we’re doing all we can to speed things up.
Conscious that Minister Hollinrake and Perm Sec have very much been gripping this, so my sense is we need a couple
of paragraphs to bring SoS up to speed on the following:
* Timelines/progress on speeding up GLO compensation schemes — this could include (a) where we are with
our proposals for Treasury and (b) what we could do to speed up WH decision-making to get the £100k.
Additionally, please do let us know if there is anything SoS can do to speed things up, or anything you need from
PO in terms of nudging CXO for a response to the letter we sent at the end of July.
© It is worth noting that SoS is supportive of the £100k flat offer to GLO postpasters and is content to
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provide a Ministerial Direction to see this get over the line. As such, it would be good if the update
focuses on how we can deliver this proposal.
© Update on the funding and strategy work for the Post Office — conscious this is very much a work in progress
(and in partnership with external consultants) but would be very helpful to understand the timelines for
developing a proposal for Treasury and how this might fit in with the Autumn Statement/other DBT requests
from Treasury.
Timings:
* Please can you provide a couple of paragraphs/bullet points on the above by Wednesday COP for us to share
with SoS?
I'd be really happy to have a quick call tomorrow/Wednesday to discuss in more detail — please do let me know if this
would be helpful.
Many thanks,
Rose
q Rose Lasko-Skinner I Private Secretary to The Secretary of State
Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I
London I SW1A 2BL
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE