UKGI00008677 - Email chain from Stephen Clarke to Richard Watson, Tom Cooper, Tom Aldred and others re: Ministerial Briefing requests during trial

Evidence on official site

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From: Clarke, Stephen - UKGI[/O=HMT/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP.
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=8A261230540B454 1883BC1E75B94ESE7-
CLARKE, STEPHEN (SCL]

Sent: Tue 20/11/2018 5:34:39 PM (UTC)

To: Cooper, Tom -

Cc: Aldred, Tom - UKGI} Fox, Joshua - UKGI

Subject: Official Sensitive & Legally Privileged: Ministerial Briefing during trial

Attachment: Fwd: Post Office Group Litigation - SUBJECT TO LEGAL PRIVILEGE - DO NOT FORWARD
Hi Richard,

I’ve discussed the Minister’s briefing request with Tom C (since I was not present but Tom phoned in).

Tom suggests that Rod be asked to provide us a weekly update during the trials. And that this can be along similar
lines to the one he provided you last Thursday (see attached). We can then simply forward this to the Minister, which
avoids UKGI making any subjective assessment of the trial (and which is consistent with the approach we took with
update subs pre-trial).

Separately, we’ll ask POL’s Comms Director to provide us with a daily roundup of any media and social media
coverage of the trial.

Happy to discuss further as necessary.
Stephen

From: Watson, Richard - UKGI

Sent: 20 November 2018 09:33
To: Clarke, Stephen - UKG!
Ce: Aldred, Tom - UKGI!
Subject: RE: Private Eye - Question on Lead Cases

Cooper, Tom - UKGI
Fox, Joshua - UKG QC ™

Stephen

The briefings thus far are ad hoc. Before I pick up with POL Legal can I be clear exactly what the Minister is expecting —
is it fortnightly briefings during the various trials or something else? Is she expecting the briefings from us or from POL
direct? I think any briefings should be purely factual — there are significant risks if we, or POL, start straying into
subjective assessments of how the trial has been going.

Perhaps we can discuss after the NAO meeting?

Kind regards

Richard

Richard WatsonIGeneral Counsel
UK Government Investments

https://www.ukgi.org.uk,
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From: Clarke, Stephen - UKGI

Sent: 20 November 2018 09:11
To: Watson, Richard - UKGI!
Cc: Aldred, Tom - UKGI!
Subject: RE: Private Eye - Question on Lead Cases

On updates, the Minister yesterday requested fortnightly briefings as the case progresses. Do we already expect POL
to provide updates regularly enough to meet this request or do we need to pass on this request to POL’s legal team (ie
a two-week maximum reporting window during the trial)?

Stephen

From: Watson, Richard - UKGI

Sent: 20 November 2018 09:01
To: Cooper, Tom - UKGI
Ce: Aldred, Tom - UKG
Subject: RE: Private Eye

Clarke, Stephen - UKG
‘ox, Joshua - UKG

Quite. I was expecting a further update from the legal team shortly, including something about the late emails, and
will follow this up if not received soon.

Kind regards
Richard

Richard Watson IGeneral Counsel
UK Government Investments

1 Victoria Street I London I SW1H OET

W: https://www.ukgi.org.uk,

From: Cooper, Tom - UKGI

Sent: 20 November 2018 08:58
To: Clarke, Stephen - UKGI!”
Ce: Aldred, Tom - UKGI!
Joshua - UKGI
Subject: Re: P:

I, Fox,

Fascinating isn’t it. Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story...

Do we know if the judge has said anything about the late emails?
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Tom

Sent from my iPhone
On 19 Nov 2018, at 11:09, Clarke, Stephen - UKGI!

“I wrote:

Tom,

I’ve checked the six lead case summaries supplied by POL. Four cases predate 2012 and two are
subsequent to 2012. None of the six cases straddle 2012 (ie start before and end after). See a summary
below of the six lead claimants, showing their dates of service (the facts of their cases all fall within
these periods too), contract types and branch location. Stephen

Naushad Abdulla

Branch: Charlton Post Office Branch®, 10-12 Charlton Church Lane, SE7 7AF
Dates of service: 24 January 2007 to 8 May 2009
Contract model: Modified Subpostmasters' Contract

Alan Bates

Branch: Craig-y-don Post Office® Branch, 21 Queens Road, Craig-y-don, Llandudno, LL30
1AZ

Dates of service: 7 May 1998 to 5 November 2003

Contract model: Standard Subpostmasters Contract 1994

Mohammad Sabir

Branches: Cottingley Post Office® Branch, 4 The Parade, Cottingley, BD16 1RP; Crossflatts
Post Office® Branch, 33A Keighley Road, Bingley

Dates of service: 9 September 2006 to 2 October 2009 (Cottingley); 11 October 2006 to 2
October 2009 (Crossflatts)

Contract model: Standard Subpostmasters Contract 1994

Louise Dar

Branch: Lenzie Post Office Branch®, 118 Kirklintilloch Road, Lenzie, Glasgow
Dates of service: 19 November 2014 to 27 March 2017
Contract model: Network Transformation Contract

Elizabeth Stockdale

Branch: Sandsacre Post Office® Branch, Wheatley Drive, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, YO16
6TN

Dates of service: 8 May 2014 to 16 September 2016

Network Transformation Contract (Local Post Office® Branch, On Site Variant, Post Office
Limited Cash)

Pamela Stubbs
Branch: Barkham Post Office Branch®, 50 Bearwood Road, Wokingham, RG41 4SY

Dates of service: 23 September 1999 to 12 August 2010
Contract model: Standard Subpostmasters Contract 1994
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From: Cooper, Tom - UKGI

Sent: 16 November 2018 17:31
To: Clarke, Stephen - UK!
Cc: Aldred, Tom - UKGI

Watson, Richard - UKGI

Subje Private Eye Coverage on Litigation

Stephen
How many of the lead cases have facts that overlap 2012?
Tom

Sent from my iPhone
On 16 Nov 2018, at 15:44, Clarke, Stephen - UKGI

wrote:

FYI see attached coverage in Private Eye

<Scan.pdf>