Committee publication · Correspondence · 29 June 2026
Letter from the Director, Post Office Policy at the Department for Business and Trade relating to Government compensation schemes: update oral evidence session, 19 June 2026
Summary
The Department for Business and Trade's Director of Post Office Policy updates the Public Accounts Committee on three areas of post-evidence follow-up regarding government compensation schemes. The letter addresses Fujitsu's compensation negotiations, outreach to Horizon victims, and forensic accounting for repayments, indicating decisions will follow the Inquiry's final report expected Autumn 2026.
Key findings
- Fujitsu has acknowledged moral obligation to contribute compensation for Horizon victims; clearer view on contribution scale expected after Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry final report (Autumn 2026)
- Department and Post Office have undertaken extensive outreach including direct mailouts, legal representative engagement, and targeted campaigns, resulting in substantially higher applications than originally anticipated
- Some affected individuals remain reluctant to come forward due to personal impact or preference not to engage with compensation schemes
- Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry's next volume addresses accountability issues; Department will consider findings and respond to recommendations before taking further forensic accounting work forward
Tone
ProceduralTopics
public-compensationpost-office-horizongovernment-accountabilityit-failures
Key actors
Carl Creswell, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Department for Business and Trade, Fujitsu, Post Office, Public Accounts Committee
Notable line
“Fujitsu has acknowledged a moral obligation to contribute to compensation, and Ministers have met with Fujitsu to continue discussions on the scale of any contribution.”
Key Quotes
“Fujitsu has acknowledged a moral obligation to contribute to compensation, and Ministers have met with Fujitsu to continue discussions on the scale of any contribution.”
“… we recognise that, regrettably, some individuals may not feel able to come forward, including due to the impact of their experiences or a preference not to engage.”
“The next volume of the Inquiry is considering issues relating to accountability, and it is appropriate that its findings are established before any further work is taken forward.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗