POL00146462
POL00146462
From: Paula VennellsI
Sent: Sun 22/09/2013 9:
To: Alice Perkins CBE
Subject: Fwd: Prospectus
Not sure how much you want keeping in the loop. But hoping it goes through, I have earned my keep on this
one. Unusually BIS misjudged it: they were unable to get the changes through and seemed to be unclear (?) on
how much time we had before the deadline. So we were told our luck and time had run out on Friday.
Read bottom up. I hope it is now resolved.
Paula
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: Jon Millidge <
Date: 21 September 2013 1
To: Paula Vennells +"
Subject: Re: Prospectus
Ok. I think we should be able to remove but I will need to confirm on Monday.
Jon
noose Original Message -----
From: Paula Vennells
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2013 07:48 AM
To: Jon Millidge
Subject: Re: Prospectus
No Jon, the request is to remove it.
It is not an RM ‘contract risk’ either. Thx Paula
Sent from my iPad
On 20 Sep 2013, at 22:56, "Jon Millidge" wrote:
And that is the point I have just raised with the team - maybe better under contracts.
Jon
From: Paula Vennells
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 09:54 PM
To: Jon Millidge
Subject: Re: Prospectus
It is. Just odd therefore that it features in an IT risk section.
Thx v much. P
Sent from my iPad
Paula
I thought that this risk only repeated the press release and that your team
were ok with it.
Evidently not! So let me check with the team. I will get back to you.
Jon
From: Paula Vennells
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 09:36 PM
To: Jon Millidge
Subject: Prospectus
Hi Jon, I realise this is ridiculously late and for that my sincere apologies.
However, i have just seen an email that our team in BIS appear to have
hit a brick wall on one particular para in the prospectus. And I'm told it
has to be lodged with UKLA by 8am Monday.
It is:
“Tn July 2013, an interim report was published into alleged problems
with POL's "Horizon" computer system, which is used to record
POL00146462
POL00146462
POL00146462
POL00146462
transactions in its branch network. The report confirmed that no system
wide problems had been found in relation to the "Horizon" software, but
suggests that POL should examine its support and training processes for
sub-postmasters."
Our challenge is that this is not a risk to RM and is particularly
misleading in the IT risks section. As your para states, the findings of the
interim report related to Spmr training and support not IT faults.
Can you get this para removed? Alice had offered to contact Donald if
necessary but I don't want to disturb her this weekend.
So sorry to bother you with this. And I recognise that the para makes it
clear there isn't an IT fault. But its presence in an IT risk section
potentially opens up a sensitive and politically high profile situation.
Regards, Paula
Ps. There are still concerns regarding the negative tone of POL
references in the risk section but whilst we don't much like it, we
understand that is the point of that section; and both our teams have
worked hard to redress some of the more extreme original text. I am
told a more positive picture of the RM/POL partnership is painted
elsewhere in the prospectus and marketing materials. Could you send me
some examples that would illustrate that - it would aid both our
businesses if I can put the balanced view to my Board next week.
Thanks. P
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 by reply email and then delete this email from your system. Any views or opinions expressed within
this email are solely those of the sender, unless otherwise specifically stated.
POST OFFICE LIMITED is registered in England and Wales no 2154540. Registered Office: 148 OLD STREET, LONDON
EC1V 9HQ.