Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom (Conservative) on Monday, 22 June 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 July 2020. It was answered by Lord Callanan (Conservative) on Monday, 6 July 2020 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Horizon IT System

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Accounting Officer with responsibility for the Post Office has played any role in advising ministers on the Government’s policy in relation to (1) the faults in Horizon software; (2) the treatment by the Post Office of sub-postmasters in relation to allegations of alleged criminal behaviour by sub-postmasters; (3) the sub-postmasters’ litigation against the Post Office; and (4) the establishment of the review into the Horizon issues.

Answer

The Principal Accounting Officer (PAO) responsible for Post Office Ltd. (POL) is the BEIS Permanent Secretary.

Issues regarding POL’s IT system and its relationship with postmasters are operational matters in which the PAO and Ministers relied on information provided by POL senior management.

Following the Common Issues Judgment in March 2019, POL advised Ministers that it intended to change its approach to the litigation. This included changes to the POL legal team and strategy, and ultimately led to the successful mediation in December 2019.

The Independent Review into Post Office and the issues highlighted by the litigation was approved within Government at all levels, including by the BEIS Permanent Secretary.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5975
Session
2019-21
Related items
Post Office: Accounting Officers
Thursday, 8 October 2020
Written questions
House of Commons
Post Office: Accounting Officers
Thursday, 8 October 2020
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Accounting officers Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Horizon IT system
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk