UKG100020236
UKGI00020236
Message
From: Thompson, Laura - UKGI
Sent: 14/04/2016 16:20:41
To: Neville-Rolfe MPST fo GRO geecnreneeneinenneninnencennnneninnnesniy 7
cc: Javid MPST [: ___Ji Callard, Richard - UKGI
Subject: ubmission to Ministers on Post Office Horizon
Hi George — we spoke, I suggest you send something along the lines of the following. Happy to chat through of course.
I am writing to update you on a group legal action which is being lodged against the Post Office.
We have previously kept you informed about allegations that the Horizon IT system, used in Post Office branches, had
systemic errors which were causing accounting discrepancies and causing postmasters to be wrongly accused of false
accounting or theft. Post Office have taken the matter seriously, bringing in independent forensic accountants to look at
the issue, and setting up a mediation scheme to allow postmasters to raise claims. However, despite no evidence of
flaws or wrongful convictions being found, the campaign continues. To put this in context, around 150 claims have been
raised, from a population of 11,500 post office branches and nearly half a million users of the Horizon system since it
was rolled out in 2000.
Civil action against Post Office has been mooted in the past but never pursued. The campaign group, Justice for
Subpostmasters Alliance, announced on Monday that they have launched High Court proceedings against Post Office.
Post Office are yet to receive a formal letter of claim, which would set out the basis for the legal action, but have
received a letter from JFSA’s solicitors stating that proceedings have been issued on behalf of 91 claimants.
Post Office are unaware of any new developments in the underlying disputes which might make the chance of a
successful claim any more likely. This claim may therefore come to nothing, as others have in the past. The new Chair of
Post Office Limited, Tim Parker, has undertaken a review of this matter with support from a QC. He is meeting with
Baroness Neville-Rolfe later this month to discuss his review findings further, but the headline is that there remains no
evidence that the IT system if flawed or that any convictions are unsafe.
Officials here advise we maintain the position that this is a matter for the Post Office — particularly given there could be
legal proceedings underway. I am updating you on this as this matter has been raised at PMQs in the past, most recently
on 1 July 2015 by Andrew Bridgen MP, where the Prime Minister responded that “I would hope that it would not be
necessary to have a full independent judicial inquiry to get to the bottom of this issue, but get to the bottom of it we
must.”
Do get in touch if you need any additional information.
Laura Thompson I Assistant Director
UK Government Investments
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UKGI00020236
From: Thompson, Laura - UKGI
Sent: 14 April 2016 16:25
To: 'Neville-Rolfe MPST' <~
Ce: Javid MPSTi” ~
allard, Richard - UKGI
Subject: Submission to Ministers on Post Office Horizon
OK thanks Andrew
George/Rob — let me know what you need from us.
Laura Thompson I Assistant Director
UK Government Investments
1 Victoria Street I London I SW1H OET
TF
From: Neville-Rolfe MPST
Sent: 14 April 2016 16:18
To: Thompson, Laura - UKGI ¢__
Ce: Javid MPST£
Subject: RE: Subi
pAd Javid MPST a GRO.
st Office Horizon
Hi Laura,
BNR has asked that an e-mail is sent to No10 via the SoS office just to sight them on the developments re Horizon.
Kind regards
Andrew Smith
From: Thompson, Laura - UKG
Sent: 14 April 2016 16:16
To: Neville-Rolfe MPST
Cc: Javid MPST; SpAd Javid MPST; Perm Sec (BIS); Russell Mark (UKGI); Baugh James (UKGI); Callard Richard (UKGI);
Dollin Michael (UKGI); Manson Justin (UKGI); McInnes Tim (UKGI); Williams Jessica (UKGI); Kilgarriff Patrick (LEGAL B);
French Claire (Communications)
Subject: Submission to Ministers on Post Office Horizon
Andrew cc. Rob, George
Please find attached note that we discussed with the Minister yesterday regarding the Post Office Horizon issue and
potential group civil action against Post Office.
The Minister asked for a sense of timescales. Until a letter of claim is received by Post Office and they are informed of
the details of the claim, it is difficult to judge timescales, but we will provide further updates as and when we receive
any. The solicitors state that the letter of claim will be sent to POL within 14 days.
Rob, George — happy to chat through any additional background if intend to put this to your SpAds/Minister.
Thanks
UKG1I00020236
UKGI00020236
Laura
Laura Thompson I Assistant Director
UK Government Investments
1 Victoria Street I London I SW1H OET
GRO
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