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From:
Sent:
To:
Alwen Lyons
Susan Crichton
Subject: Fwd: James Arbuthnot letter
Here it
Trying
Thanks
Alwen
is
to get home a few inches of snow tomorrow might be fun !
Alwen Lyons
Company Secretary
Begin forwarded message:
From: Alwen Lyons GRO
Date: 11 March 2013
To: Paula Vennells +
Subject: Re: James ‘Arbuthnot letter
First an assurance that the reason for the separate emails was because I missed you off the first
one to Alice, no excuse and i apologise, and I will make sure she realises you should have been
included and have seen the email. Let me also assure you that no other notes have or will be sent
to Alice without you being included.
And I also would not want anything to spoil the transparency between us which I think is vital.
The brief which was drafted by Simon Baker and edited by Susan and myself was written as a
brief for you and Alice before we knew she would be invited to the meeting. Simon it is IT link.
My view of the SS findings is mixed. I believe they are doIng a good job albeit taking longer than
we would have hoped but their process means that they have collected all the ‘evidence’ from
subpostmasters before inviting out comments or explanations. They have therefore found similar
issues, either because they are real issues or because they are good excuses when things go
wrong. Until we see the evidence which is beginning to come through now it is difficult to say.
We, Susan, Simon, Angela, Alana, Rod and myself, have regular meetings with SS and there is
now a working group to look at the evidence.
Susan, Simon, Mark, Angela and I are have a meeting next week to discuss the comms before we
have a per meet with SS.
THey have assured me today that they understand that they need James and the mps to
understand they way they are conducting their work, and that issues will be live at the moment
but they then look to disprove them.
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It is disconcerting but we need to work through each point as they raise it with out being
defensive. At least in James' letter he acknowledges that we are working well with SS it will be
hard not to be defensive as we disprove subpostmasters evidence.
Hope that helps, perhaps we can pick up tomorrow and include Susan in the conversation.
I think Alice and I, or Alice, you and I should go on the 25th, with Angela as well if Alice wants
to take 4 people. We were the 4 who met the MPs last time.
How did today go with Jo and Moya
Thanks
Alwen
Alwen Lyons
On 11 Mar 2013, at 17:55, "Paula Vennells" > wrote:
Alwen, thanks for this.
(A very small point but in the interests of transparency between you and me -
regarding which to reassure you, I always assume the best - presumably there is no
good reason other than you forgot, that I wasn't copied in the original update to
Alice? Or she in your note to me. This is tricky enough as it is without Alice and I
wondering who knows what and why?)
The update note is very good by the way - who wrote it? Always useful to know
where we have such good briefing skills? (You?)
Now to my biggest concern - we are taking big decisions on IT currently and
irrespective of the independence of the SS work, which it is critical to protect, I/we
should be aware asap if there are emerging issues with Horizon. Who from IT is in
the loop, do you know? And do you know if we have a view as to how robust the SS
findings are - ie., there may be similarities of accounts from Spmrs - but are they
being born out by analysis of what actually happened within the system itself?
I am surprised that I picked this up only by reading a letter from James to Alice. I'd
have thought that a loyal supplier would have let us know - it's pretty important in
terms of POL risk management and it would be good if SS had flagged it to us as the
work unfolded. That shouldn't compromise their independence in anyway. Do you
have any insight into this?
I don't want us being defensive as I'm pleased to find these things out (sort of!) - but
goodness, this is very very serious if either true and/or leaked.
Who is now working up the Comms, will you arrange a pre-brief for 25/3 and who
do you think should attend?
Thx as always for your attention to this, it was never going to be easy.
Paula
Sent from my iPad
On 11 Mar 2013, at 11:56, "Alwen Lyons"
fyi
Thanks
Alwen
Alwen Lyons I Company Secretary
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From: Alwen Lyons
Sent: 11 March 201.
To: Alice Perkins (¢_
Subject: James Ar!
Alice please find attached an update on the Horizon Second Sight
investigation and the letter we were expecting from James Arbuthnot
inviting you to his meeting on the 25" March.
Jorja has asked Bea to check your diary.
James is also suggesting a call this week. Let me know what you think about
attending and the call and I will organise with Janet.
Thanks
Alwen
Alwen Lyons I Company Secretary
wrote:
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Sent 09:59
To: Alwen Lyons
Subject: FW:
“}I PA to Alice Perkins, Chairman
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Sent: 07 March 2013 17:20
To: Alwen Lyons
Subject:
I PA to Alice Perkins, Chairman
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Postlin
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<2013.03.07 invite from
<March 2013 Horizon update brief for AP and PV.doc>
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