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From: Secretary of State DBT (DBT)[/O=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE
ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=73D1B78651B9426CB175E1B86
FB7588D-1724E4D2-17]
Sent: Tue 30/07/2024 10:39:22 AM (UTC)
To: Minister THOMAS (DBT)
FALLOWFIELD (DBT)I
Cec: Jason CHEUNG (DBTi_.
BICKERTON (DBT.
! Monique EBELf
i ie SIMPOLE-CLARKE
} Richard HOWARD
i WONES
GRO 7 'Kesgaiv ARLOTT
Olivia COUTTS-HOWES
Subject: RE: Ministerial Submission - Horizon Shortfall Scheme - Fixed Sum Awards -
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Thank you all,
SoS has reviewed and agreed with Min Thomas’ steers.
Warmest,
Jason
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Minister THOMAS (DBT):
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2024 3:25 PM
To: Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT) {
State DBT (DBT) I
Ce: Jason CHEUNG (DBT)
; Secretary of
David BICKERTON (DBT)
i Car! (DBT)
“>; Brooks-White Jobshare
RIGHTWELL (DBT)
“+; Charlotte HEYES (DBT)
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Monique EBELt"I (DBT)
attie SIMPOLE-CLARKE (DBT)
“} Richard HOWARD (DBT)
5 Eleri WONES (DBT)
Blunden-Minett.Jobshare!
llen WASDEN (DBT) ‘
“}; Keegan ARLOTT (DBT)
livia COUTTS-HOWES (DBT)
Helena RARATY (DBT)
+; Harriet CLARKE (DBT)
hanie COSSOM (DBT)
_jLiam BUTLER®(DBT)
Subject: RE: Ministerial Submission - Horizon Shortfall Scheme - Fixed Sum Awards - OFFICIAL
SENSITIVE
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Harry,
Thank you for attending the meeting today — for the benefit of the chain, the Minister
was content with recommendations a), b), c) and e) in the sub, but has asked not to
delay the introduction of the fixed sums award outlined in recommendation d).
@Secretary of State DBT (DBT) Jason please let me know if you/SoS have any
further comments on this or if the team are ok to proceed.
Happy to chat if needed.
Best,
Jamie
va Jamie Cunningham I Private Secretary to the Minister for Services, Small Busine:
oy Department for Business and Trade I Private Office Group
Department for Old Admiralty Building I London I SW1A 2DY
Business & Trade Phon
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT) q
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 4:36 PM
To: Minister THOMAS (DBT) ¢
Cc: Jamie CUNNINGHAM (DBT)!
Jason
; Georgina GRA
; David BICKERTON (DBT)
>; Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Brooks-White Jobshare ¢-
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
H I Charlotte HEYES (DBT)
CHEUNG (DBT) {
i; Keegan ARLOTT (DBT)
Olivia COUTTS-HOWES (DBT)
SENSITIVE
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Thanks Jamie,
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Subject: RE: Ministerial Submission - Horizon Shortfall Scheme - Fixed Sum Awards - OFFICIAL
Yes — Carl, Beth and I will attend. Let me know if you need anything else in advance.
Harry
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Minister THOMAS (DBT) C
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 3:19 PM
To: Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT) !
Cc: Jamie CUNNINGHAM (DBT;
‘Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
; Brooks-White Jobshare
Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
-----4 Charlotte HEYES (DBT)
G RO ; Monique EBEL =(08T)
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; Richard HOWARD (DBT)
leri WONES (DBT)
GRO +, Blunden-MinettJobshare
Ellen WASDEN (DBT)
Keegan ARLOTT (DBT)
Olivia COUTTS-HOWES (DBT)
“I Helena RARATY (DBT)
Harriet CLARKE (DBT)
phanie COSSOM (DBT)
3, Liam BUTLER! (DBT)
Subject: RE: Ministerial Submission - Horizon Shortfall Scheme - Fixed Sum Awards - OFFICIAL
SENSITIVE
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Harry,
Thanks for sending this through — the Minister had reviewed and has asked if an
Official would be free to discuss options B, C and D in more detail on Thursday at
1.30pm. Please can you let me know who would be free to lead this discussion?
Happy to chat through anything if needed.
Best,
Jamie
Ba Jamie Cunningham I Private Secretary to the Minister for Services, Small Busine:
ae Department for Business and Trade I Private Office Group
Department for Old Admiralty Building I Lond SW1A 2DY
Business & Trade Phon I Em
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
From: Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT) I
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2024 5:57 PM
To: Minister THOMAS (DBT)
DBT Ministerial
Jason
>; Georgina GRANT«(DBT)
>; David BICKERTON (DBT)
§ Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
; Brooks-White Jobshare
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Hattie SIMPOLE-CLARKE (DBT)
Richard HOWARD (DBT)
} Eleri WONES (DBT)
Blunden-MinettJobshare
Ellen WASDEN (DBT)
“>; Keegan ARLOTT (DBT)
Olivia COUTTS-HOWES (DBT)
Helena RARATY (DBT)
; Harriet CLARKE (DBT)
_..b; Stephanie COSSOM (DBT)
iam BUTLER'I(DBT)
rry FALLOWFIELD (DBT)
GRO
ortfall Scheme - Fixed Sum Awards - OFFICIAL
SENSITIV!
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Jamie, Jason,
With thanks to those in copy, please find attached Ministerial Advice seeking agreement to
implement the £75k Fixed Sum on the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS). This is for
consideration by 1) Minister Thomas and 2) Secretary of State.
We will be submitting Accounting Officer advice on this issue to the Permanent Secretary
shortly, following final clearances. AO clearance is required before proceeding. We will also
provide advice in the next few days on the proposal for an independent appeals process for
the HSS. We expect both issues to be raised by Kevin Hollinrake during next week's redress
announcement.
Lead private secretary: Jamie Cunningham
Submission title: FOR DECISION: Horizon Shortfall Scheme Fixed Sum Awards
Timing: We would be grateful for a swift readout. Post Office has received regular
correspondence from postmasters awaiting payment of the £75k fixed sum following the
March announcement and we expect it to be raised during next week's redress
announcement.
Summary: This note seeks your agreement on delivering a fixed sum award to provide
redress to postmasters participating in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme.
Recommendation: That Ministers agree to:
a) Implementing your predecessors’ announcement to introduce a Fixed Sum
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Award of £75k to HSS claimants, to bring the scheme in line with the GLO scheme.
b) Capping awards at £50k where postmasters reject the Fixed Sum and are
offered a lower amount, with no option to return to the Fixed Sum.
c) Not providing legal advice to claimants to consider the offer of a fixed sum.
d) Consider whether to delay the introduction of the Fixed Sum Award until we
have clarity from HMT on funding for HSS Appeals, noting that this could take several
weeks or months.
e) Note the revised application process set out in paragraph 17.
Annexes: Annex A — Financial Impact
Cleared by: Carl Creswell — Director, Post Office and Business Engagement
Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to discuss.
Many thanks,
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE