The Government is dealing with calls to halt Fujitsu – the IT firm on the centre of the Post Office scandal – from successful any new Whitehall contracts.
Amid rising public fury on the wrongful prosecution of subpostmasters for alleged fraud, MPs and friends are demanding the Japanese-based agency be suspended from getting recent offers.
Fujitsu created the defective accounting software program known as Horizon that made it seem as if cash was lacking from Post Office branches.
More than 700 department managers had been handed legal convictions in what has been described as essentially the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British historical past.
A public inquiry into the scandal is ongoing and anger on the therapy of subpostmasters has grown after an ITV drama returned the difficulty to the highlight.
This has additionally seen a recent deal with how Fujitsu, regardless of their function within the scandal, has gained almost 200 public contracts with a worth of about £6.7billion over the previous decade.
According to information compiled by Tussell, the Government procurement analysts, Fujitsu’s offers embody offering IT companies to colleges in Northern Ireland (value £485million) and infrastructure utilized by HM Revenue & Customs.
The Government is dealing with calls to halt Fujitsu – the IT firm on the centre of the Post Office scandal – from successful any new Whitehall contracts
Sub-postmasters took their struggle for justice to the High Court after falling sufferer to defective accounting software program known as Horizon
Fujitsu created the Horizon software program that made it seem as if cash was lacking from Post Office branches
In October 2022, Fujitsu was awarded a contract value as much as £5million to work on the UK’s new emergency alert system
Senior Conservative MP David Davis instructed Fujitsu needs to be frozen out of future Government contracts within the wake of the Post Office scandal
In October 2022, Fujitsu was awarded a contract value as much as £5million to work on the UK’s new emergency alert system.
The system, which is designed to warn the general public of life-threatening conditions resembling excessive climate, was examined in April final yr.
But customers of the Three cell phone community mentioned they didn’t obtain the check alert resulting from what was suspected to be a technical glitch.
The checklist of 197 offers gained by Fujitsu since June 2012, as compiled by Tussell, features a almost £2.4billion contract for the Horizon system itself, with a £36million extension to maintain the system operating till 2025.
Senior Conservative MP David Davis instructed Fujitsu needs to be frozen out of future Government contracts within the wake of the Post Office scandal.
‘I believe it barely depends upon how they reply to the query I’ve simply given – what number of of those folks did you truly meddle of their computer systems?,’ the ex-Cabinet minister informed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Pressed on whether or not contracts needs to be placed on maintain, he added: ‘I would definitely droop any risk of latest contracts till that’s over.
‘What I don’t wish to see is one injustice adopted by one other. So we have now acquired to stay with some course of on this and ensure we are literally checking the information and doing what we should always do.’
Lord Arbuthnot, the previous Tory MP who beforehand led a struggle within the House of Commons on behalf of subpostmasters, mentioned he was perplexed why Whitehall continued to favour the corporate.
‘I am unable to perceive why an organization that behaves in such a devious method remains to be successful contracts,’ he informed the Sunday Times.
Former subpostmaster Lee Castleton, one of many victims of the scandal, additionally expressed incredulity at how Fujitsu continues to earn hundreds of thousands from public contracts.
‘It’s loopy, is not it? I do not suppose Fujitsu will ever be held accountable,’ he informed the newspaper.
Asked right this moment if the Government would rethink working with Fujitsu sooner or later, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman mentioned: ‘The cupability or in any other case of Fujitsu is one thing that’s being examined as a part of the impartial inquiry course of. So I’m unable to totally opine at this level.’
Pressed on whether or not the Government would take into account freezing out Fujitsu from the awarding of latest public contracts whereas the inquiry continues, the PM’s spokesman replied: ‘We would not look to behave earlier than we have now established the complete information relating to Fujitsu’s cuplability or in any other case.
‘That work is being led by [inquiry chair] Sir Wyn Williams and we’ll act as soon as he gives additional data.’
Kevin Hollinrake, the postal companies minister, final week informed Times Radio that the Government ‘positively ought to take a look at’ recouping cash from Fujitsu to fund compensation funds to subpostmasters.
A Fujitsu spokesman informed MailOn-line: ‘The present Post Office Horizon IT statutory inquiry is analyzing advanced occasions stretching again over 20 years to know who knew what, when, and what they did with that information.
‘The inquiry has bolstered the devastating affect on postmasters’ lives and that of their households, and Fujitsu has apologised for its function of their struggling.
‘Fujitsu is absolutely dedicated to supporting the inquiry as a way to perceive what occurred and to study from it.
‘Out of respect for the inquiry course of, it could be inappropriate for Fujitsu to remark additional right now.’