BEIS0000889 - Email from Secretary of State DBT to Minister Thomas, Liam Butler and others re: Ministerial Submission - Horizon Shortfall Scheme - HSS Appeals Mechanism - Official Sensitive

Evidence on official site

BEIS0000889
BEIS0000889

From: Secretary of State DBT (DBT)[/O=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE
ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=73D1B78651B9426CB175E1B86
FB7588D-1724E4D2-17]

Sent: Mon 12/08/2024 8:06:15 AM (UTC)
To: THOMAS (DBT);

‘Liam BUTLER®

Submissionsf. Minister

Thomas Correspondence

Ce:

Monique EBELLS o

SIMPOLE-CLARKE

sgevieney Ellen WASDEN
eegan ARLOTT

Dlivia COUTTS-HOWES

I Helena RARATY
larriet CLARKE

lephanie COSSOM

Subject: RE: Ministerial Submission - Horizon Shortfall Scheme - HSS Appeals
Mechanism - OFFICIAL SENSITIVE

OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE

Good morning all,

Note that SoS has reviewed and agreed with the recommendations, but also wished
to be kept closely informed as to the progress of claims — can an update on HSS
Appeals data be provided alongside the monthly data update please?

Warmest,
Jason

Jason Cheung I Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Department for Business and Trade I Old Admiralty Building I London SW1A 2DY

OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE

Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2024 3:02 PM
BEIS0000889
BEIS0000889

BT Ministerial
_}; Secretary of State DBT
Minister Thomas Correspondence (DBT)

5

To: Liam BUTLER:
Submissions

jason CHEUNG (DBT) ; David BICKERTON (DBT)

; Carl CRESWELL (DBT)
Brooks-White Jobshare‘-
Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT)

Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)
Charlotte HEYES (DBT)
Monique EBELL2 (DBT)

attie SIMPOLE-CLARKE (DBT)
Richard HOWARD (DBT)
} Eleri WONES (DBT)

; Ellen WASDEN (DBT)

} Olivia COUTTS-HOWES (DBT)
3; Helena RARATY (DBT)
Harriet CLARKE (DBT)

; Stephanie COSSOM (DBT)

Subject: RE: Ministerial Submission - Horizon Shortfall Scheme - HSS Appeals Mechanism -
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE
OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Liam,

Hope all is well.

The Minister has reviewed and is content with the recommendations in this sub. He is
also content to send the attached latter which I have tweaked slightly.

@Secretary of State DBT (DBT) Jason, please let me know if you/SoS is happy with
this and once confirmed @Minister Thomas Correspondence (DBT) Eve please can
you format and esig the attached letter and send to HMT.

Please note that Minister Thomas is also not unfortunately not a Rt Hon.

Best,
Jamie
ye Jamie Cunningham I Private Secretary to the Minister for Services, Small Busine
& Department for Business and Trade I Private Office Group
Department for Old Admiralty Building I London I SW1A 2DY

Business & Trade
BEIS0000889
BEIS0000889

OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE

From: Liam BUTLER=(DBT) I_
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2024
To: Minister THOMAS (DBT)
Submissions I

Cc: Jamie CUNNINGHAM (DBT,

DBT Ministerial

>; Jason
avid BICKERTON (DBT)
Carl CRESWELL (DBT)

>; Brooks-White Jobshare
Harry FALLOWFIELD (DBT)

"} Rob BRIGHTWELL (DBT)

I Charlotte HEYES (DBT)

+; Monique EBELL2 (DBT)

+; Hattie SIMPOLE-CLARKE (DBT)

4 Richard HOWARD (DBT)

“>; Eleri WONES (DBT)...
~Blunden-Minett.Jobshare i... GRO I
Ellen WASDEN (DBT)

Keegan ARLOTT (DBT)

Olivia COUTTS-HOWES (DBT)

i; Helena RARATY (DBT)

arriet CLARKE (DBT)

Stephanie COSSOM (DBT)
GRO i

Subject: Ministerial Submission - Horizon Shortfall Scheme - HSS Appeals Mechanism -
OFFICIAL SENSITIVE

OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE
Hi Jamie, Jason,

With thanks to those in copy, please find attached Ministerial advice seeking agreement for
officials to develop an appeals mechanism for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS).

We will be submitting Accounting Officer advice on this issue to the Permanent Secretary
shortly, following final clearances. AO clearance is required before proceeding.

As highlighted in the advice, the Secretary of State or Minister Thomas will need to send a
letter to CST to request funding. We have attached a copy of that letter to this e-mail.

Lead private secretary: Jamie Cunningham
BEIS0000889
BEIS0000889

Submission title: FOR DECISION: Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals Mechanism

Timing: A decision is required urgently to ensure that an announcement can be made ahead
of the next Inquiry hearings in September, illustrating HMG’s proactiveness and a willingness
to action the recommendations of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board and the
Business and Trade Select Committee.

Summary: This note recommends introducing an independent, government-administered
appeals process for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS).

Recommendation: That Ministers agree to officials:

+ Developing a government resourced and administered independent appeals process
for the HSS with the aim to introduce this as quickly as possible.

+ Working with HM Treasury to obtain funding for this process.

+ Aiming to make an announcement on launching a scheme ahead of the Post Office IT
Inquiry hearings in September 2024.

Annexes
Annex A: Background information on the HSS and criticisms it has faced
Annex B: Financial Estimates and Risks associated with Option 1 — additional information

Cleared by: David Bickerton, Director General, Business Group

Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to discuss.

Department for Business and Trade
Liam Butler

4" Floor, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H OET
www.gov.uk/beis I https://twitter.com/beisgovuk

OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE