WITN10010106
WITN10010106
From: Cooper, Tom - UKGI
Sent: 16 September 2020 11:53
To: Donald, Charles - UKGI; Mark Russell; Watson, Richard - UKGI; Creswell, Carl
(Professional Business Services, Retail & Post Directorate); Munby, Sarah (BEIS)
Ce: Permanent Secretary [EEE (BEIS); DG Business Sectors;
(Professional Business Services, Retail & Post Directorate)
Subject: POL Litigation/Governance - Confidential
Ahead of our call this afternoon this is just to update you that Ken McCall, the SID, has confirmed that, having
spoken to other members of the Board as he deemed appropriate, he does not think it appropriate to take any
action in relation to Tim Parker’s decision-making around the QC’s review in 2015 of POL’s handling of the Horizon
complaints.
His rationale is the same as reported previously. Ken believes Tim made a significant error of judgement in
accepting legal advice that the QC’s report and, as a consequence the follow-up work, should not be shared with the
Board. But he has some sympathy with the fact that Tim would have had to take a very strong position against the
legal advice at the initial stage of his tenure to achieve a different outcome. Overall, Ken’s view is that Tim has been
a strong force for positive change at the company while he has been Chairman and it would be
unfair/disproportionate to take action over this specific issue.
I haven’t asked him to put any of this in writing or come in to meet Ministers or officials to discuss, but this is an
option if the decision is to take this further at our call later.
Tom
Tom
Tom Cooper
Director
UK Government Investments
1 Victoria Street I London I SW1H OET
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