UKGI00001424 - Email chain from Mike Whitehead to Mike Granville, Ronan Kelleher CC Will Gibson and Others re BBC Arbuthnot piece.

Evidence on official site

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From: Whitehead Mike (ShEx)[/O=DTI/OU=DTIHQ/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=MJWHITEH]
Sent: Fri 22/06/2012 8:51:28 AM (UTC)

To: Mike Granvillef ‘Ronan

Ce: Gibson Will (ShEx)/ GRO “"} Tanner Henry
(Communications

Subject: FW: BBC Arbuthnot piece

Ronan/Mike

I understand through Will that Alice has asked us to agree a defensive line if
pressed on the Cabinet Office commissioning the independent review (as advocated in Andrew
Bridgen quote yesterday).

How about?

‘This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd who have already commissioned an independent,
external review by forensic accountants.’

Regards

Mike

Mike Whitehead

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Shareholder Executive

Royal Mail and Postal Services

1 Victoria Street

London SW1H OET

From: Whitehead Mike (ShEx)

Sent: 21 June 2012 14:21

To: Mike Granville; ‘Ronan Kelleher’
Ce: Gibson Will (ShEx)

Subject: BBC Arbuthnot piece
Mike/Ronan

Our final defensive lines

‘POL has already commissioned an independent, external review of a small number of individual cases in
light of these specific cases. Horizon has been rigorously tested over the years using robust, independently
assured processes.

‘POL have complete confidence in the robustness and integrity of its Horizon computer system and related
accounting processes. Ultimately though this is an operational and contractual matter for POL which
Government continues monitor."
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If pushed on Cabinet Office review ...

POL already have independent reviewers for Horizon'
Regards

Mike

Mike Whitehead
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Shareholder Executive

Royal Mail and Postal Services.

1 Victoria Street
London SW1H OET

GRO