Committee publication · Correspondence · 4 February 2026

Letter to the Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls relating to implementing the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024, 12 January 2026

Inquiry: Post Office Horizon scandal: Justice for sub-postmasters

Summary

The Business and Trade Committee chair requests detailed written information from the Minister for Victims about implementation of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Act 2024. The letter seeks clarification on the appeals process for sub-postmasters deemed ineligible for conviction quashing, including procedural documentation, timelines, staffing levels, and communication records with affected individuals.

Key findings

Committee seeks explanation of formal appeals process for sub-postmasters not eligible under categories A-E of the 2024 Act
Request for flow diagrams and case worker training documentation for the appeals process implementation
Committee queries why Mrs Eaton was not notified of her case ineligibility determination
Inquiry into contact difficulties: 205 individuals need to provide further information but some cannot be verified/contacted
Request for identification steps for individuals outside the 1,002 identified as qualifying under the Act

Tone

Procedural

Topics

criminal-justicepublic-administrationlegal-remediespost-office-scandal

Key actors

Alex Davies-Jones MP, Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Business and Trade Committee, Mrs Eaton, Ministry of Justice, Sub-postmasters

Notable line

“Please could you explain this Appeals Process in writing and tell us how you notify sub-postmasters of this Process?”

Key Quotes

“In your evidence to the Committee, you told the Committee there is a formal appeals process (the Appeals Process) for those who are not deemed eligible to have their appeals quashed under any single one of the categories, A-E, provided for by the 2024 Act.”
— Business and Trade Committee Chair · Referencing ministerial evidence on appeals eligibility

“Why was Mrs Eaton not written to notify her that her case had been deemed ineligible?”
— Business and Trade Committee Chair · Querying notification procedures for ineligible cases

“You told the Committee in your evidence that there may be other individuals outside of the 1,002 identified to qualify under the Act. What steps are you taking to identify these individuals? I would appreciate a response to this letter with the requested information by Monday 19 January.”
— Business and Trade Committee Chair · Referencing contact tracing difficulties in implementation

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗