Post Office Inquiry stay – investigator questioned over Horizon IT scandal
A Post Office investigator is giving proof on the long-running Horizon inquiry at present as stress mounts on the Government to hurry up help for victims.
The Horizon failure, branded one of many largest miscarriages of justice in British historical past, has sparked a recent wave of anger after ITV drama Alan Bates Vs The Post Office shone a highlight on it. More than 900 staff had been wrongly convicted on account of errors within the Horizon software program, supplied by Fujitsu.
Yesterday, the Government introduced that wrongly-convicted postmasters will probably be cleared beneath a brand new legislation. Once the laws is handed and convictions have been quashed, individuals will probably be entitled to not less than £600,000 in compensation.
The public inquiry into the scandal, being performed by Sir Wyn Williams, is at present listening to proof from investigator Stephen Bradshaw.
Follow our stay protection of at present’s listening to under
Fujitsu ought to repay ‘fortune’ if it is discovered culpable, says Justice Secretary
Fujitsu ought to repay the “fortune” spent on the Post Office scandal whether it is discovered culpable, the Justice Secretary has advised, as stress mounts on the agency behind the defective Horizon software program.
If the statutory inquiry into the saga, which resumes on Thursday, finds the “scale of the incompetence is as we might imagine”, the Government would need to “secure proper recompense on behalf of the taxpayer”, Alex Chalk stated. Hundreds of Post Office department managers had been convicted of swindling cash on the idea of proof from the know-how large’s flawed Horizon accounting system.
Mr Chalk stated the Government would anticipate the conclusions of the inquiry chaired by retired decide Sir Wyn Williams earlier than it decides what motion to take towards the corporate. “But bluntly, if the scale of the incompetence is as we might imagine, then I simply would want to secure proper recompense on behalf of the taxpayer,” the Cabinet minister informed ITV’s Peston.
“It’s absolutely right that there should be justice across the piece, yes for the subpostmasters, which we’re talking about today, but frankly also for the taxpayer. This has cost and will cost a fortune.”
If Fujitsu is discovered to be at fault, it “should face the consequences”, Mr Chalk added, in an indication ministers may launch authorized motion towards the Japanese firm. The agency has been awarded authorities contracts value billions in recent times and its continued involvement in main IT schemes has raised issues at Westminster.
