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From: Thompson Laura (Shareholder Executive)[/O=BIS PRODUCTION/OU=EXCHANGE
ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=73D8709345C44 1479FOD7E2ADCE207C9-
LATHOMPS]
Sent: Mon 16/03/2015
To: Cable MPS
Correspondenc GRO
Cec: Swinson.
MPST{ 6 ‘Richard (ShEx){7777777
McInnes Tim (SHEX)hceenewwee ORO vec j; Franklin-Wailis Hanna
(Communications): 1, Ministerial Advice
Team! GRO J
Subject: RE: Revised letter to James Arbuthnot MP
Attachment: 150316 SoS letter to James Arbuthnot revised.docx
Hi Tara
Further to our conversation just now, here is a revised letter based on the feedback from SoS. I hope it addresses his
concerns around tone.
I thought it would be helpful to provide a few additional bits of information for SoS:
Firstly, he referred to the National Federation. The NFSP are strongly supportive of Post Office’s position on this
matter — that there are no systemic issues with Horizon. George Thomson, General Secretary of the NFSP, gave some
robust evidence to the BIS Select Committee on this issue, going so far as to suggest that a number of cases in the
scheme had been making false allegations against Post Office.
The organisation working with Mr Arbuthnot are the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance (JFSA) — a small group of
perhaps 20-30 members, mostly former subpostmasters, led by Mr Alan Bates, himself a former subpostmaster with
a case in the scheme. They are not affiliated to the NFSP.
It is also worth reiterating that, having re-investigated all 136 cases in the scheme thoroughly, including those which
resulted in criminal convictions, Post Office have found no evidence that would suggest any convictions were unsafe.
They have a duty to share any information of this nature if it arises with the individual and their legal advisor — but
this has not been the case in any case within the scheme (or indeed those raised outside of the scheme).
Iam happy to provide any additional information that would be helpful to SoS.
Many thanks
Laura
Laura Thompson I Assistant Director I Shareholder Executive
From: Thompson Laura (Shareholder Executive)
Sent: 16 March 2015 13:18
To: Cable MPST; Cabl
Cc: Swinson MPST SPAD Cable MPST; Callard Richard (ShEx); McInnes Tim (ShEx);
Franklin-Wallis Hannah (Communications); Ministerial Advice Team
Subject: Revised letter to James Arbuthnot MP
Importance: High
Tara
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As I think Claire has already flagged to you, we have now spoken to Jo about the letter to James Arbuthnot MP
regarding the Post Office Horizon system.
Please find attached a revised version which includes Jo’s changes, plus the additional paragraph of information I
sent up on Friday. I attach a clean version ready to be formatted, and one with the tracks showing so you can draw
SoS’ attention to the changes.
It would be good if this letter can go out ASAP, please. Note that the letter is to be copied to the PM, DPM and
Adrian Bailey MP.
For your information, we are also revising slightly the letter from Jo Swinson to Mr Alan Bates to address a specific
point he raised — we plan to issue that in the next day or so (1 am waiting for some clarification from Post Office).
Do let me know if you need anything else.
Thanks
Laura
Laura Thompson I Assistant Director, Post Office Network Team I Shareholder Executive
BIS, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H OET E
ations/the-shareholder-executive
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