POL00143205
POL00143205
From: Susan Crichton[IMCEAEX-
_O=MMS_OU=EXCHANGE+20ADMINISTRATIVE+20GROUP+20+28FY DIBOHF23SPDLT+29
_CN=RECIPIENTS_CN=SUSAN+20CRICHTONC5FA6431-DC28-49AB-8F0F-
BE4237A4AD4F @C72A47.ingest.local]
Sent: Fri 22/06/2012 7:07:10 AM (UTC)
To: ‘Aliceperkin: vernuennnnie
Vennellsf GRO
Ce: Alwen LyonsI
Subject: Fw: Post Office Ltd position
§ Paula
From: Gibson Will (ShEx)!
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2042 09:04 AMT
To: Susan Crichton
Subject: Fw: Post Office Ltd position
From: Gibson Will (ShEx)
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 08:04 AM
To: Whitehead Mike (ShEx)
Subject: Re: Post Office Ltd position
Mike,
Alice has requested a defensive line if we're pushed on whether CO should do the review rather than a POL appointee.
Pls cd you and Ronan/Mike work up an appropriate line - majoring on the opening words of our line, ie operational
matter which POL is taking clear steps on.
will.
From: Whitehead Mike (ShEx)
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 02:04 PM
To: 'Ronan Kelleher’ !~
Cc: Mike Granville
Subject: RE: Post O1
; Gibson Will (ShEx)
Ronan
Many thanks.
Our suggested defensive lines if approached are:
‘The issue is an operational and contractual matter for Post Office Ltd. Its Horizon computer system,
operated in all branches for over 10 years, has been rigorously tested using robust independently -
assured processes.
POL has commissioned an independent, external review of a small number of individual cases,
raised by MPs to provide clarity to the MPs concerned. POL remains fully confident about the
robustness and integrity of its Horizon system and related accounting processes."
Any further media queries should be directed to POL press office.
POL00143205
POL00143205
For my background at this stage, is there clarity yet on whom, in the final para of the JA statement,
MPs (and if wished MP's spm constituent) will meet. Is this POL or the case reviewer ? And who will
be undertaking the individual case reviews?
Regards
Mike
Mike Whitehead
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Shareholder Executive
Royal Mail and Postal Services
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H OET
From: Ronan Kelleher’
Sent: 21 June 2012 13:
To: Whitehead Mike (ShEx)
Cc: Mike Granville
Subject: Post Office Ltd position
Hi Mike
Mike Granville has asked ne to forward this to you
Post Office spokesman said: "The Post Office continues to have absolute confidence in the
robustness and integrity of its branch accounting processes. Over the past ten years, many millions
of branch reconciliations have been carried out with transactions and balances accurately recorded
by more than 25,000 different subpostmasters. The Post Office has no hesitation in agreeing to an
external review of these few individual cases that have been raised with us by a number of MPs."
* This affects a very small number of individual cases (about 10). To put this into context, over
the past ten years, many millions of branch reconciliations have been carried out with
transactions and balances accurately recorded by more than 25,000 different subpostmasters.
+ The Post Office continues to have absolute confidence in the robustness and integrity of its
branch accounting processes.
+ We are not independently reviewing our systems. We have agreed with MPs to commission
an external review of a small number of individual cases and report back on these. We already
have processes in place to ensure that systems and processes are fully audited and are robust.
* Post Office Ltd will be funding this work. We must therefore have due regard for making sure
that public funds are spent sensibly in considering the specific numbers of cases where we will
undertake these processes.
+ Post Office Ltd is happy to respond to the need for information from MPs who are responding
to concerns by a small number of their constituents. The activities we have put in place in
agreement with these MPs are proportionate and should help to clarify often complex issues.
POL00143205
POL00143205
Regards
Ronan
Ronan Kelleher
Head of PR and Media
_Post Office Ltd
This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the named
recipient, you must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication. If you have
received this in error, please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system.
ROYAL MAIL GROUP LIMITED registered in England and Wales at 100 VICTORIA EMBANKMENT, LONDON EC4Y
OHQ with the registered company number 04138203
POST OFFICE LIMITED registered in England and Wales at 148 OLD STREET, LONDON EC1V 9HQ with the
registered company number 02154540
This email was received from the INTERNET and scanned by the Government Secure Intranet anti-
virus service supplied by Cable& Wireless Worldwide in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM
Certificate Number 2009/09/0052.) In case of problems, please call your organisation's IT Helpdesk.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legal
purposes.
The original of this email was scanned for viruses by the Government Secure Intranet virus scanning service
supplied by Cable& Wireless Worldwide in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM Certificate Number
2009/09/0052.) On leaving the GSi this email was certified virus free.
Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legal purposes.
This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the addressee only. If you are not the named recipient, you
must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication. If you have received this in error,
please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system.
ROYAL MAIL GROUP LIMITED registered in England and Wales at 100 VICTORIA EMBANKMENT, LONDON EC4Y 0HQ
with the registered company number 04138203
POST OFFICE LIMITED registered in England and Wales at 148 OLD STREET, LONDON EC1V 9HQ with the registered
company number 02154540