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Mediation Scheme Chronology
Confidential & Subject to Legal Privilege
Pre-2010
DATE EVENT Schedule
October 2008 I Gartner report on Horizon Online (HNG-X)design 1.0
2009 The JFSA is established 11
11/05/2009 Computer Weekly publishes an article alleging there are faults with the Horizon system lav
2010
DATE EVENT Schedule
2010 Horizon online upgrade (HNG-X) 2.0
31/03/2010 Alan Bates sends a letter to Edward Davey MP, Minister for Postal Affairs 2.1
18/05/2010 Computer Weekly publishes a blog on the ‘new Post Office system’ which includes a Post 21i¥
office response to a subpostmaster experiencing problems with Horizon Online
08/07/2010 Alan Bates emails Edward Davey regarding the response he received to his letter of 31 2.2
March 2010. He is upset by Edward Davey’s response and lists the ‘hidden issues’
Subpostmasters allegedly face/experience
20/07/2010 David Smith (Post Office Managing Director) writes to Priti Patel MP in response to the 22iv
Parliamentary Question she tabled on 08 July 2010:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his most recent
estimate is of the cost to postmasters and subpostmasters of errors in the Horizon
operating System; and if he will make a statement”.
31/07/2010 Edward Davey emails Alan Bates to request that he contact his PA to set up a meeting 2.3
14/10/2010 I Alan Bates emails Edward Davey to follow up on their meeting. He states: 24
¢ Horizon is the root cause of All issues for JFSA members,
e _JFSA has no other agenda than to redress the wrongs that have inflicted upon them
21/10/2010 Alan Bates emails Edward Davey to highlight three cases of Subpostmasters being 2.5
prosecuted
07/12/2010 Edward Davey replies to Alan Bates email, stating he: 2.64
eis reassured Horizon is sound
* cannot interfere with judicial cases
I recognise that the core of the JFSA's concerns relates to the Horizon system to which you
attribute the financial discrepancies and shortages which have led to a number of
subpostmasters having their contracts terminated and subsequent court action. However
POL continues to express full confidence in the integrity and robustness of the Horizon
system and also categorically states that there is no remote access to the system or to any
individual branch terminals which would allow the accounting records to be manipulated
in any way."
2011
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DATE
EVENT
Schedule
12/02/2011
Nick Wallis blogs about the Horizon integrity features on two broadcasts of BBC's ‘Inside
Out’ programme
3.0V
20/08/2011
Alan Bates emails Edward Davey to inform him that ‘letters of claim’ have been filed by
Shoosmiths on behalf of four Subpostmasters against POL in respect of:
e the Horizon System
e the legality of the Subpostmaster Contract
The four cases were:
e Scott Darlington
¢ Julian Wilson
«Terence Walters
e — Thakshila Somaskandarajh
3.1
September
2011
Private Eye publishes an article citing faults in Horizon and that 55 Subpostmasters have
brought a class action against Post office. Jo Hamilton appears as a case study.
3.114
09/09/2011
Edward Davey sends Alan Bates and email acknowledging his email of 20/08/2011
3.2
28/09/2011
Nick Wallis Blog — key extracts:
I have been working with a journalist at Private Eye magazine over the past few weeks,
and a piece on the Post Office Horizon system leads the investigative section "In the Back"
in this fortnight's issue (No 1298 30 Sep - 13 Oct p.28).
These have prompted dozens of prosecutions and financial ruin for businessmen and
women with previously spotless records. Fifty-five of them last week launched a “class
action” against the Post Office, arguing that their troubles owe more to computer error
than dishonesty
The Post Office remains the only body in the UK to run its own prosecutions and
campaigners think that if it had to use the Crown Prosecution Service, many cases would
not have made it to court. The last organisation with such powers, Customs & Excise, was
stripped of them almost a decade ago when it was found to have over-stepped the mark in
several high-profile cases.
3.4.4
15/12/2011
James Arbuthnot writes to Edward Davey in relation to the closure of the Odiham Post
Office
3.414
15/12/2011
James Arbuthnot writes to Moya Greene (RMG CEO) regarding the closure of the Odiham
Post Office, alleging it is as a result of problems with Horizon
3.5V
17/12/2011
Nick Wallis Blogs about Lee Castleton’s case — principally based upon an email he has
received from Mr Castleton
3.514
2012
DATE
EVENT
Schedule
January 2012
James Arbuthnot writes to the Minister and Moya Green regarding the closure of the
Odiham Post Office citing ‘irregularities’ and questioning the Horizon System
4.0V
12/01/2012
Kevin Gilliland responds to James Arbuthnot’s letter of January 2012, on Moya Green’s«
behalf
4.0i¥
24/02/2012
James Arbuthnot emails the Post Office Chairman Alice Perkins regarding Horizon and
requests a meeting. Alice Perkins responds, agreeing to a meeting
41
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February The JFSA launch a short survey of 100 Subpostmasters on ‘Survey Monkey’. Questions 4.2
2012 attempt to capture the losses respondents attribute to faults in Horizon. Survey is open for
eight days.
February Deloitte perform an Internal Audit Assurance review of Key System Controls in Horizon 4.3
2012
25/02/2012 I Alan Bates emails the new Minister for Postal Affairs Norman Lamb to request a meeting. I 4.4
He wishes to:
¢ Raise the JFSA cause
¢ Offers to work with the Minister’s Office
27/02/2012 James Arbuthnot Chairs a meeting at Porticullis House to discuss Horizon. Norman Lamb is I 4.5
invited but declines
08/03/2012 James Arbuthnot and all other MPs receive a letter and booklet from Post Office about 4.6
modernisation in the Post Office network
09/03/2012 Asummary report is provided to BIS on the current status of the Horizon Litigation 4.61 Vv
(referencing Shoosmiths)
13/03/2012 James Arbuthnot meets with Alice Perkins and Post Office Company Secretary Alwen 47
Lyons. Alice Perkins offers to consider a further review of Horizon by an IT expert and
invites James Arbuthnot to another meeting (scheduled for 28 March 2012)
26/03/2012 James Arbuthnot writes to Alice Perkins to thank her for meeting on 13 March 2013 4.8
02/04/2012 Alice Perkins writes to James Arbuthnot to invite him to a further meeting 49
15/05/2012 I Post Office receive a proposal from Deloitte to conduct a forensic investigation into © I 4.10%
Horizon
17/05/2012 Post Office (Alice Perkins, Paula Vennells, Alwen Lyons, Angela Van Den Bogerd) hold a 4.11Vv
meeting with James Arbuthnot and Oliver Letwin, during which they agree to appoint a
firm of forensic accountants
01/06/2012 An initial proposal from Second Sight is received and they sign NDAs 4.12V
6/06/2012 Alice Perkins and Susan Crichton (Post Office GC) prepare TOR for Second Sight to work on I 4.13 ¥
the investigation
07/06/012 « I A meeting is held between Paula Vennells, Alice Perkins, Susan Crichton, Alwen Lyons an@ I 4.14
Simon Baker where the Deloitte and Second Sight Proposals are discussed.
Second Sight is chosen as the preferred supplier.
07/6/012 Deloitte provide an alternative proposal 4.15 V
08/06/2012 Alice Perkins makes some minor adjustments to the Second Sight TOR 4.16 ¥
11/06/2012 The TOR are shared with James Arbuthnot for his approval 4.17V
18/06/2012 I James Arbuthnot meets with MPs, with Post Office present. © I 4.18v
25/06/2012 James Arbuthnot writes a letter to Alice Perkins asking for advice on how to respond to his I 4.19 ¥
constituent — Mr D Robinson, Odiham, Hook
25/06/2012 Susan Crichton asks Second Sight to hold off beginning work until James Arbuthnot 4.20
endorses the Post Office’s decision.
04/07/2012¢ I Alice Perkins replies to James Arbuthnot’s letter regarding his constituent Mr D Robinsone I 4.201 ¥
of Odiham, Hook
4/07/2012 « I Second Sight attends its first meeting with James Arbuthnot. The following MPs are also # I 4.21”
present:
e Andrew Bridgen
¢ Mike Wood
¢ Tessa Munt
e Mary Glindon
* I The primary purpose of the meeting was to get James Arbuthnot’s approval of Second
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© I Sight
05/07/2012 James Arbuthnot emails Alwen Lyons to state that Alan Bates should have no power of 4.22V
veto over Second Sight’s appointment or how the investigations ought to be undertaken.
12/07/2012 I Second Sight attends its second meeting with James Arbuthnot. Alan Bates and © I 4.23
Kay Linnell are present, "how to carry the sub-postmasters with us" is discussed
23/08/2012 Post Office sends Second Sight the first CD containing documents for the initial batch of 4.24
cases
13/09/2012 lan Henderson attends a workshop with Fujitsu to get a technical understanding of 4.25
Horizon
December « I Raising Concerns with Horizon Document is issued jointly by Post Office and the JFSA. I 4.26
2012
The deadline for submissions is 28/02/2013
2013
DATE EVENT Schedule
28/02/2013 I Deadline for Subpostmasters to submit issues to Second Sight for their Inquiry. ° I 5.0
.
I Cases are submitted through either the office of James Arbuthnot (29 cases) or the JFSA
(18 cases)
25/03/2013 A meeting takes place between Second Sight, JFSA and MPs. Seven issues are identified 5.1
that Second Sight propose to prioritise. An Interim report is to be produced by
Parliamentary Recess on 18 July 2013
25/03/2013 I James Arbuthnot emails Susan Crichton to comment on lan Henderson’s account of the 5.24
meeting
01/04/2013¢ I Letter from Alan Bates to James Arbuthnot in regard of the meeting of 25/03/2013. Alan e I 5.2iv
Bates expresses concern in relation to what he sees as being the ‘systemic failures’
associated with Horizon and their lack of prominence in Second Sight’s report
16/04/2013« I James Arbuthnot replies to Alan Bates letter of 01/04/2013 in which, while expressing © I 5.2ii”
sorrow for Alan Bates discontent with how investigations are proceeding, he states “I
understand that firm evidence of any failures inherent in Horizon is yet to be found in any
case the investigators have thus far undertaken....Until it is the Post Office has no reason
to admit systemic failures exist...it is simply untenable that such an admission ought to be
made until such evidence is produced”.
17/04/2013 I Alan bates write to Jo Swinson (New Minister for Postal Affairs) with concerns similar to « I 5.2 iii ¥
those expressed in the letter Alan Bates sent to James Arbuthnot on 01/04/2013
21/05/2013 I Alan Bates emails Paula Vennells requesting a meeting. Alan Bates requests that Kay e I 5.3
Linnel also attends as she has been tasked, by JFSA, to monitor the work of SS
.
Alan Bates believes he has sufficient evidence to show that many Post Office prosecutions
should not have taken place
03/06/2013 Paula Vennells emails Alan Bates to state it is too early in the investigation to question the: I 5.4
e integrity of Horizon; and
e validity of prosecutions
09/06/2013 Alan Bates emails Paula Vennells agreeing to a meeting once Second Sight has published 5.5
its Interim Report and presented to MPs on 9 July 2013
05/07/2013 Pauls Vennells and James Arbuthnot meet 5.6
06/07/2013 Alan Bates emails Paula Vennells asking for a proposal for the composition of the Working I 5.7
Group
06/07/2013 Paula Vennells emails Alan Bates agreeing to send him a copy of: 5.8
e Second Sight’s Interim Report once factual inaccuracies have been removed; and
¢ Post Office’s draft statement
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07/07/2013 I Paula Vennells emails Alan Bates. A copy of the draft Post Office Statement is provided but I 5.9
he already has a copy of Second Sight’s Interim Report.
Alan Bates is asked to support and help implement the three recommendations made by
Post Office
08/07/2013 James Arbuthnot meets with Alan Bates, Kay Linnel, Mike Whitehead (BIS), 2 5.10 V¥
Representatives from POL, lan Henderson, Ron Warmington, Tadge Channer (Shoosmiths),
Andrew Bridgen, Oliver Letwin- to discuss the Interim Report
I Second Sight’s Interim Report is published.
‘08/07/2013
Post Office releases its statement on Second Sight’s Interim Report. 5.12v
11/07/2013 Alan Bates emails Paula Vennells to propose how the Scheme should be Structured. He 5.14
states that each case should be assessed on:
* Thematics/systemic failures & issues; and
« _Software/hardware problems
11/07/2013 I Pauls Vennells replies to Alan Bates email, agreeing to look at his proposed approach © I 5.15
12/07/2013 I Post Office is first contacted by the CCRC © I 515i
24/07/2013¢ I Susan Crichton replies to the CCRC’s contact of 12/07/2013 and briefly articulates the ¢ I 5.15iiv
steps being taken by Post Office, referencing that a more detailed response will be
provided in due course
26/07/2013 I Susan Crichton states that she is not yet in a position to be able to provide a more detailed I 5.15 iii v
response to that provided to the CCRC on 24/07/2013, but instead sets out Post Office’s
proposed course of action — the instruction of Brian Altman QC, and Cartwright King
30/07/2013 I The CCRC respond to Susan Crichton’s letters of 26/07/2013 indicating that it makes sens@ I 5.15 iv ¥
for them to wait for the initial conclusion drawn by Brian Altman QC
August 2013e I Nick Wallis Blog- Key extracts: « I 5.164
.
e I It is not just about computer failure. It's about incompetence, intransigence and
indifference. It is a story about an organisation's misplaced faith in the infallibility of a
computer system and its total disregard for any consequent misery caused. It is a story
about ordinary people having their lives ruined through a series of punitive technical,
contractual and legal constraints which stacked the odds against them, and then ran them
through, good and proper.
There are many who have lost everything through no fault of their own. They deserve
redress. They need their convictions quashed, and they need their money and reputations
back
26/08/2013 I Post Office issues a press release announcing the establishment of the Scheme © I 5.17V
27/08/2013 Applications are invited via the Post Office’s internal communications channels as well as 5.18 ¥
through the JFSA website
09/09/2013 Nick Wallis Blog- Key extracts 5.19 ¥
I would urge any disaffected Subpostmasters reading this to get in touch NOW. As far as I
understand it, part of the process of mediation is that you will be required to sign a
gagging order which stops you, under threat of being sued, from talking to anyone,
especially journalists, about any settlement or agreement you make with the Post Office.
What I'm not clear on is whether the gagging order is signed before any settlement is
agreed, or whether it's signed as part of the settlement. I can't imagine it's the former, but
I did hear someone suggest it was.
Even assuming it's only signed on agreement of settlement, it's not ideal. You'll (hopefully)
get some money back, but you won't be able to protest your innocence or tell the story of
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what happened to you to anyone, ever again.
24/09/2013 A meeting is held between Paula Vennells, Alasdair Marnoch, Martin Edwards and Sir 5.20
Anthony Hooper
29/10/2013 Sir Anthony Hooper, former Court of Appeal Judge, is announced as the independent Chair I 5.21”
of the Working Group
18/11/2013 Case application window closes 5.22
26/11/2013 Alice Perkins writes to James Arbuthnot regarding the number of applications received to I 5.23 ¥
scheme and suggests meeting in the New Year
05/12/2013 Rodric Williams (Post Office Solicitor) writes to Nick Wallis to ask him to provide the 5.24v
‘evidence’ he alleges to have in relation to undermining the prosecutions of
Subpostmasters
2014
DATE EVENT Schedule
13/01/2014 I Alan Bates emails Paula Vennells to express his concern that Post Office is restricting the « I 6.0
Working Group’s scope in terms of investigation and discussion. He asserts that this is
owing to the new Post Office representatives on the Working Group
13/01/2014 Martin Edwards replies on Paula Vennells behalf to arrange a meeting to fully understand I 6.1
Alan Bates concerns
13/01/2014 I Paula Vennells and Chris Aujard (Post Office GC) meet with Sir Anthony Hooper 6.2
28/01/2014 James Arbuthnot meets with Paula Vennells and Alice Perkins to discuss the current and 6.21%
future running of the Post Office and the progress made in relation to the Scheme. James
Arbuthnot raised concerns regarding keeping MPs informed, clauses restricting Second
Sight on what they could comment on and that Second Sight had concerns in relation to
the turnover levels of programme staff. Paula Vennells offered to meet with Second Sight
directly to address any concerns they may have and that advising on criminal cases and
prosecutions policy is outside of Second Sight’s scope.
24/03/2014 Paula Vennells meets with James Arbuthnot 6.3
Paula Vennells and Sir Anthony Hooper meet with MPs
Paula Vennells meets with Second Sight
xx/03/2014 Post Office commissions Linklaters to the review any legal risk to Post Office 6.4
20/03/2014 Linklaters produce a report on the legal risk to Post Office 6.54%
xx/03/2014 Deloitte are commissioned by Post Office to review the Horizon control environment 6.6
14/05/2014 Paula Vennells writes to James Arbuthnot to share his concerns about progress; outlines 6.74
what Post Office is doing to accelerate progress; states that it is premature to produce and
release a ‘thematic’ report and references Sir Anthony Hooper writing to the Minister to
correct inaccuracies in Alan Bate’s letter to Jenny Willott MP.
20/052014 James Arbuthnot replies to Paula Vennells letter of 14/05/2014. He Expresses concern 6.8v
about the amount of time case reviews are taking; agrees the Minister has done the right
thing regarding letting Paula Vennells and Sir Anthony Hooper know about Alan Bate’s
letter but questions why Alan Bates felt he was unable to address Paula Vennells or Sir
Anthony Hooper directly.
James Arbuthnot writes to Alan Bates saying he “would not want to see the Working
Group and its process placed in any sort of jeopardy”.
23/05/2014 Paula Vennells meets Sir Anthony Hooper 6.9
23/05/2014 Deloitte produce a draft report for discussion: Horizon — Desktop Review of Assurance 6.914
Sources and Key Control Features.
04/07/2014 Deloitte produce a board briefing. A document further to their report of 23/05/204 that 6.9 ii Y
identifies five specific matters identified by POL as critical to POL’s legal position
05/06/2014 Chris Aujard responds to a letter received from the CCRC on 16/05/2014 and provides an 6.9 iii YW
update on the progress of the review undertaken by Post Office
12/06/2014 Paula Vennells responds to James Arbuthnot’s note of 20/05/2014 stating that she will 6.10 ¥
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consult with Sir Anthony Hooper regarding what should be provided as an update for MPs;
references the Alan Bate’s letter to the Minister and that Sir Anthony Hooper wrote to the
Minister to correct some of the inaccuracies. States a ‘clear the air’ meeting not needed at
this point.
02/07/2014
Paula Vennells provides, via a letter to James Arbuthnot, an update of progress of Scheme
(with numbers provided by Sir Anthony Hooper).
08/07/2014
James Arbuthnot replies to Paula Vennells letter of 02/07/2014. He expresses concern
over the length of time being taken for the investigations to be completed
16/07/2014
Citing Paula Vennell’s letter of 02/07/2014, James Arbuthnot writes a letter to MPs
expressing his concern about the pace at which the Scheme is progressing
e
GE SO
17/09/2014
James Arbuthnot writes to Paula Vennells expressing concern following a call from Alan
Bates and asking if Working Group meetings could be “less lawyerly”
22/09/2014
Post Office produce a reply to Second Sight’s Briefing Report — Part Two (August Edition)
6.16 ¥
30/09/2014
Post Office meet with Second Sight to discuss concerns with its rate or production, cost and
work product
6.17 ¥
01/10/2014
Paula Vennells responds to James Arbuthnot’s letter of 17/09/2014 explaining the General
Counsel is the lead Post Office representative at Working Group meetings and that the
Working Group is independent and it is not appropriate for her to intervene.
6.18 ¥
14/10/2014
Paula Vennells writes to Jo Swinson on the back of the recent media attention and the
disclosure of Second Sight’s Part two Report, to provide her with further background
information on the Scheme and a brief update, courtesy of Chris Aujard
6.181
10/11/2014
Alan Bates sends a letter to Sir Anthony Hooper to express concerns in relation to the
Scheme in relation to the role of the Working Group, that no further draft case review
reports should be released prior to the production of Second Sight’s Part Two Report,
questioning whether Post Office conforms to its continuing disclosure obligations and that
“the whole spirit of the Scheme that JFSA agreed to at the outset and planning stage has
totally disappeared”.
6.18 ii ¥
05/11/2014
Paula Vennells writes to James Arbuthnot to follow up their telephone conversation of 28
October 2014 during which he raised a number of concerns over Post Office’s engagement
with the Scheme. Paula Vennells raises the point that no evidence of faults in Horizon has
been presented, that an evidenced based approach is not legalistic but rather, fair minded
and rational.
6.18 iii¥”
17/11/2014
Paula Vennells meets with MPs.
Oliver Letwin puts forward proposition that there should be a ‘general presumption’ that
Post Office will agree, save in a few undefined exceptional cases, to the mediation of all
cases where this is the recommendation of Second Sight
6.19
24/11/2014
Post Office obtains advice from Tom Weisselberg QC on whether issues raised as part of
the Scheme are a matter of public or private law
6.20
28/11/2014
Paula Vennells writes to James Arbuthnot to say she has reflected on the meeting of
17/11/2014 and Oliver Letwin’s proposal, but cannot agree to it. She points out that the
Post Office has not prevented any case from progressing through the scheme as it was
designed. The letter also rejects suggestion that the scope of scheme should be
broadened.
6.21v
08/12/2014
James Arbuthnot writes to Paula Vennells disagreeing with her letter of 28 November
which outlined how the scheme and its processes were operating as they were, jointly,
designed to.
James Arbuthnot takes issue regarding the non-mediation of criminal cases; the scope of
6.22
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the Scheme; and postmasters no being present at Working Group meetings when their
case is discussed.
He asks: That PO does not utilise any time barred limitation point in resisting legal claims;
for agreement that no data relating to these cases will be destroyed; that PO agrees to
Second Sight meeting with MPs.
James Arbuthnot releases both letters to the media
09/12/2014
James Arbuthnot issues press release “MPs lose faith in Post Office Mediation Scheme”
6.23 ¥
09/12/2014
Radio 4 Today Programme Interviews Jo Hamilton James Arbuthnot and Mark Davies.
James Arbuthnot alleges :
“At considerable public expense, the Post Office set up this mediation scheme, but sadly
they are now trying to sabotage that very mediation scheme that they set up. And they’re
doing this in secret. It’s an extraordinary story; they’re trying to bar from mediation 90% of
the sub postmasters for whom it was set up”
6.24
09/12/2014
BBC 1 Programme ‘The One Show’ bases a programme on:
“in the news today, MPs have criticised the Post Office for how it handled claims that an IT
system caused around 150 SubPostmasters to be accused of stealing vast amounts of
money”
6.25
09/12/2014
Edwin Coe LLP issues a press release stating they have been instructed by the JFSA to bring
a class action against Post Office
6.26 ¥
10/12/2014
Post Office obtains advice from Tom Weisselberg QC in relation to its future plans for the
Scheme
6.27
December
Sir Anthony Hooper writes to Jo Swinson to provide some information, including latest
statistics, on the Scheme prior to the Parliamentary debate on 17/12/2014
6.271%
2014
2015
DATE EVENT Schedule
14/01/2015 Mark Davies (Post Office Director for Communications and Corporate Affairs) writes to 7.04
James Arbuthnot referencing the Westminster Hall Adjournment debate. The letter
provides a fact sheet on the Scheme and offers a confidential meeting about Jo Hamilton’s
case.
14/01/2015 CCRC make contact with Post Office and request a copy of the report by Brian Altman TAY
19/01/2015 Nick Wallis Blog - Key extracts 7.2V
If you want to hear what a contract lawyer has to say about the Subpostmaster contract,
what a professor of fraud studies has to say about the Post Office's investigation function,
why an MP thinks the Post Office has spent millions of pounds on a "sham" scheme and
how dozens of people have been sacked, bankrupted and prosecuted after trouble with
the Post Office IT system, please do have a watch of Inside Out tonight.
19/01/2015 Post Office features on the BBC1 programme ‘Inside Out’ 7.3V
22/01/2015 James Arbuthnot writes to Paula Vennells asking (following his letter of 08/12/2014): TAY
1. Will you agree to retaining any and all data held by the Post Office which is
relevant to the cases under consideration?
2. Will you agree not to take any time barred limitation point in resisting legal claims
arising out of the introduction of Horizon and its support arrangements?
3. Will you agree to MPs meeting Second Sight to discuss our concerns to hear their
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06/02/2015
4. take on the matter?
Nick Wallis Blog- Key extracts
Thanks to James Arbuthnot's dogged pursuit of the Post Office in parliament, a lot of the
information which the Post Office has tried to keep secret is finally surfacing. There is
plenty more which they are successfully suppressing, but they are being called out on it, by
angry MPs.
Remember News International and their absolute total denial that anyone was phone
hacking other than Clive Goodman?
All the Post Office are admitting to at the moment is that they could have done a few
(unspecified) things better.
The full horror of what Post Office "auditors", "investigators" and prosecutors have done
to dozens of subpostmasters and the basis on which they have done it has not yet fully
come to light.
24/02/2015
Paula Vennells replies to James Arbuthnot’s questions posed on 22 January, referencing
Mark Daviess letter of 14 January.
e _...there is no reason why POL should not be able to use a limitation defence where
appropriate, bearing in mind that ultimately it is something a court will rule on.
e There are no plans to destroy information, all of which is being provided to Second
Sight and applicants as part of the process of the scheme.
e She is content for PO to organise a briefing on the scheme for MPs, perhaps via the
All Party Parliamentary Post Office Group, that Second Sight could attend
7IV
24/02/2015
Jane MacLeod (Post Office GC) writes to Second Sight to express concerns that case reports
include incorrect statements regarding criminal law.
784
10/03/2015
Post Office announces closure of the Working Group and publishes the Scheme Report
794
11/03/2015
James Arbuthnot alleges, during Prime Minister’s Questions, that Post Office has sacked e
Second Sight and told them to destroy documents
7.10 ¥
16/03/2015
Adrian Bailey (Chair of the BIS Select Committee) sends a letter to Vince Cable (Secretary
of State), asking that he will e actively involved in investigating the concerns raised at the
BIS Select Committee hearing on 03/02/2015
71Y
18/03/2015
James Arbuthnot writes to Paula Vennells in response to her letter of 24/02/2015 declining
the meeting that Mark Davies offered. He claims Second Sight were “refused access” to
documents they need to be able to assess Jo Hamilton’s case:
“Whatever conclusions you as CEO have reached, to my mind, rest on very shaky ground”.
7.120
26/03/2015 «
Paula Vennells writes to James Arbuthnot following his letter of 18/03/2015 regretting hi
7.134
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decision and underlining that she does not believe she has broken any agreement with
him
26/03/2015 «
Vince Cable replies to Adrian Bailey, providing answers to each of the concerns expressed
714v
07/04/2015 «
.
.
Nick Wallis Blog - Key extracts .
It's easy to forget, and the Post Office would very much like you to forget, there are people
whose lives (and certainly careers) have been ruined by what happened to them. The Post
Office would have that a good number of these people are culpable, and admitted as much
in a court of law.
The Post Office is not interested in the idea that many of the subpostmasters who false
accounted and pleaded guilty claim they did so because of the nightmarish environment
they found themselves in. The Post Office has already exonerated itself of any blame, so
we know it's done nothing wrong.
7.15 V¥
09/04/2015 «
Second Sight produce their Briefing Report — Part Two (April Edition) .
7.16¥
09/04/2015
Post Office produce their Reply to Second Sight’s Briefing Report — Part Two (April Edition)
7.17V
15/04/2015
Second Sight is moved onto a new Terms of Engagement .
7.18 V
20/04/2015
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme James Arbuthnot calls for a judge-led
investigation into the Post Office's handling of the issue. He states that he believes there
needs to be a judge-led, independent investigation into what has happened
7.19 Vv
May 2015
A JFSA ‘newsletter’, containing advice to Applicants, is inadvertently forwarded to Post
Office. It recommends that Applicants do not take part in mediations until a ‘true and
honest scheme is in place’. 43 Applicants subsequently inform Post Office that they wish to
withdraw from, or postpone their progression in the Scheme. The newsletter makes plain
that JFSA’s number one priority is now to secure, from Government, an independent
investigation into the Post Office, Horizon and the Scheme. It goes on to provide advice on
the submission of Data Subject Access Requests.
7.20¥
May 2015
Post Office receives the first of what eventually totals 45 DSARs (42 of which are from
Scheme Applicants)
7.214
May 2015
Post Office is made aware that Panorama wish to feature Post Office and specifically the
Complaint Review and Mediation Scheme
7.220
02/06/2015
Rodric Williams writes to Second Sight to express its concern over the contents of M035’s
final CRR and principally the inclusion of extracts from a privileged Security Report
7.230
‘System,
July 2015 «
Second Sight completes final outstanding CRR. Their engagement with Post Office ends «© I 7.25
01/07/2015¢ I Andrew Bridgen requests a Judicial Inquiry at Prime Minister’s Questions 7.26V
02/07/2015 I Baroness Neville Rolfe writes to Paula Vennells request that, subsequent to the concerns e I 7.27”
raised at the Adjournment Debate on 29/06/2015, she attends a meeting at the
Department with herself, Andrew Bridgen and Kevan Jones
10/07/2015 I Paula Vennells responds to Baroness Neville Rolfe’s letter of 02/07/2015 offering her 7.28V
apologies for not being able to attend the meeting on Wednesday 17 July, but that Patrick
Bourke (Complaint Review and Mediation Scheme Programme Director) and Mark Davies
will attend in her absence
17/07/2015 Patrick Bourke and Mark Davies attend a meeting Chaired by Baroness Neville Rolfe and 7.29
also attended by Andrew Bridgen and Kevan Jones
Mid July Post Office writes to all Applicants with cases that have been referred to CEDR urging them I 7.30 ¥
2015 to engage with CEDR to set a date for mediation before 04/09/2015. Otherwise Post Office
will consider their case, as far as the Scheme is concerned, to be concluded
22/07/2014 I Ron Warmington (Second Sight) emails George Freeman to assert that his statement at the I 7.31”
Adjournment Debate on 29/06/2015, that Second Sight had found no evidence of systemic
flaws in Horizon was in fact incorrect
27/07/2015 Following the completion of its last CRR, Second Sight’s engagement with Post Office ends I 7.32 ¥
and Jane MacLeod subsequently writes to Second Sight to ensure clarity over a number of
POL00130960
POL00130960
issues but principally to ask for the return of all confidential information held by Second
Sight and destruction of all duplicates
28/07/2015
Ron Warmington emails David Cameron to complain that George Freeman has not
responded to his email of 22/07/2015 and to re-assert that George Freeman’s statement
at the Adjournment Debate on 29/06/2015, that Second Sight had found no evidence of
systemic flaws in Horizon, was in fact incorrect
7.334
31/07/2014
CEDR produces a review of the mediations that have taken place to date
7.34V
04/08/2015
Jane Hill (Post Office Head of Public Affairs) emails all MPs with a constituent whose case
has been referred to CEDR, informing them of the 04/09/2015 deadline and that Post
Office has also written to their constituent. A copy of the 31/07/2015 CEDR review is
attached to the email
7.35V
04/08/2015
Jane MacLeod writes to Second Sight regarding a breach of confidence in relation to
contents of her letter of 27/07/2015
7.36V
04/08/2015
Ron Warmington emails Baroness Neville Rolfe to complain that neither David Cameron
nor George Freeman has responded to his respective emails of 28/07/2015 and
22/07/2015
7.374
11/08/2015
Referencing its letter to applicants of mid July, Post Office writes to all applicants yet to
engage with CEDR to set a date for mediation, re-affirming the 04/09/2015 deadline and
enclosing a copy of the 31/07/2015 CEDR Review of mediations that have taken place to
date
7.384
12/08/2015
Post Office offer to meet with the BBC- under the certain necessary conditions - to show
the BBC’s editorial team documents which would disprove the claims being made and that
are to be featured on the Panorama programme. This was refused
7.39V
17/08/2015
BBC Panorama Programme: ‘Trouble at the Post Office’ is broadcast. The programme
centres on three cases:
¢ Seema Misra
¢ Noel Thomas
¢ JoHamilton
7.40
17/08/2015 ¢
Post Office issues statement in reply to the Panorama Programme .
TAY
04/09/2015 «
Mark Davies and Rodric Williams meet the BBC’s most senior news executive, James .
Harding. At that meeting Post Office acknowledge the legitimate public interest in
scrutiny of the Post Office, including by the BBC. Nevertheless Post Office make the point
that the Panorama programme was unbalanced and misleading in its presentation of the
facts, and that the BBC failed to take up the many opportunities that Post Office offered
which would have facilitated a fairer programme. Post Office reserves its right to make a
formal complaint to the BBC Trust.
7A2V
04/09/2015 «
Deadline for Applicants to engage with CEDR
06/09/2015 «
Paula Vennells, Jane Macleod and Mark Davies attend a meeting with Baroness Neville
Rolfe to discuss the Panorama Broadcast and the arguments being put forward for a
government sponsored inquiry
10/09/2015
An Early Day Motion tabled in Westminstet
‘Post Office Horizon Computer System’ .
10/09/2015 «
Patrick Bourke and Mark Davies meet with lain Wright (Chair of the BIS Select Committee)
to discuss the Panorama Broadcast and the Complaint Review and Mediation Scheme
more generally
15/09/2015
On behalf of Post Office, CMS write to the BBC to lodge a formal complaint in relation to «
the Panorama broadcast, asking that it is dealt with under the BBC’s formal complaints
procedure
08/10/2015 «
Initial Consultation with Jonathan Swift QC regarding Tim Parker’s review .