PM responds to Post Office campaigner after repeated requests | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer has responded to a letter from Sir Alan Bates calling for sooner compensation funds for postmasters impacted by the Post Office scandal, the prime minister’s spokesman has mentioned.

Sir Alan wrote to the PM twice up to now month, urging him to make sure victims obtain full monetary redress by March subsequent 12 months.

The former sub-postmaster informed MPs earlier he was nonetheless awaiting a response, earlier than the prime minister’s spokesman mentioned afterward Tuesday {that a} reply had been issued.

Last week, the federal government introduced that £1.8bn has been put aside for individuals affected by the Horizon IT scandal, along with numerous compensation schemes already introduced.

Between 1999 and 2015 a whole bunch of sub-postmasters have been wrongly prosecuted after the defective Horizon IT accounting system made it seem like cash was lacking from department accounts.

Sir Alan, portrayed in a ITV drama which thrust the scandal again into the highlight earlier this 12 months, leads the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance and was giving proof to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.

The listening to is contemplating quick and truthful redress for victims of the Post Office scandal and a key level for Sir Alan, which he has made earlier than, is that the federal government must set deadlines for compensation to be paid.

He informed MPs he had twice written to the prime minister up to now month to say “it needs to be finished by the end of March 2025”.

A No10 spokesman mentioned the PM responded to Sir Alan earlier on Tuesday, and added the federal government is dedicated to getting fast redress for victims, however is cautious of setting an “arbitrary cut-off” date that might see some claimants miss out.

“We need redress as shortly as potential,” he said. “What we don’t need to do is about an absolute closing date which might lead to some claimants lacking the deadline.

“But each postmaster eligible should receive substantial redress by the end of March.”

Campaigners have criticised the period of time it’s taking for these affected to obtain compensation. Many sub-postmasters have been wrongly despatched to jail for false accounting and theft, and several other extra have been financially ruined. Some have died ready for justice.

The PM’s spokesperson mentioned as off 31 October, roughly £438m had been paid to greater than 3,100 claimants throughout the 4 compensation schemes.

At the committee, legal professionals have been requested about their expertise of the Horizon Shortfall compensation scheme, which is overseen by the Post Office.

This compensation scheme is for sub-postmasters who weren’t convicted, or a part of the Group Litigation Order (GLO) court docket motion, however who imagine they skilled shortfalls due to Horizon.

David Enright, whose regulation agency represents a whole bunch of Post Office victims, mentioned there is no such thing as a funding for authorized recommendation at first, with claimants offered with a “DIY questionnaire”.

Then, six to 9 months later, he mentioned there’s a request for extra info which regularly includes 50-150 additional questions that may solely be answered by the likes of a forensic accountant.

“The system is designed to wear people down,” he informed MPs.

Another lawyer mentioned a few of his sub-postmaster purchasers have been being requested to offer proof of losses in claims which are 20 years outdated, however can not to take action as a result of the proof had been beforehand seized by the Post Office and never given again.

The GLO scheme is for the 555 former postmasters who gained their group lawsuit, however acquired comparatively small payouts after authorized prices have been paid. The scheme is funded and managed by the federal government.