Speeches by Western.

“Just to come back on that, it was really only because she had other businesses in the family that she was able to offset some of those moneys. In retrospect, how long was she able to sustain the business because of that? If she had not had those other businesses, she would have lost the business a lot sooner.”

“I am so sorry about the loss of your mother 10 years ago yesterday. I am sure, or I can imagine, that the anxiety played a big part in her illness. Your lawyer told us that the Post Office had said that stress really did not play a part and that you could not demonstrate or prove that that had an effect. What was your …”

“You mentioned that you submitted back in October 2022 but did not get a response until August 2023, 10 months later. Why do you think it took so long?”

“Mr Hartley, when you were previously before the Committee, I think you said that in terms of Post Office disclosure, there was a degree of inefficiency and incompetency. Has that improved since you were last before the Committee?”

“Jill, thanks very much, and thank you all for being here. Can you talk through a little more about the experience that you have felt going through the HSS?”

“When the Post Office first made you an offer, did you consider it to be fair?”

“How do the first offers compare with what the claimants perhaps were expecting? Perhaps Mr Enright can come in as well.”

“Mr Hartley, I understand that when you were previously before the Committee, you spoke about areas in which you felt that the offers were not fair. I wonder what improvements you have seen since then.”

“We heard from the previous panel—you may have heard too—about the complexity. Is there a simple way of enabling claimants to come to that calculation? For the 43 that you talked about, is there something simple that could be done, such as a calculator? Do you know what I mean?”

“Do you think you will see more claimants applying to the assessment panel now to speed up the process for them?”

“According to month-end June 2024 data, out of 109 notified claims for redress of overturned convictions, five have been referred to your panel for independent assessment, while zero were observed at end of quarter in October 2024. First of all, what is the overall figure for cases that have been referred to you? Second…”

“The other thing that your lawyers have said is that in disclosure provided by the Post Office, it laid blame on your mother for the shortfall losses. Can you tell us a little more about that?”

“I commend my right hon. Friend for making such a bold and difficult decision here when so many of her predecessors shied away from it. Putting the sector on a sound financial footing is crucial, but I also welcome the move on maintenance support. Can she assure me that, when she talks about increasing efficiency in the…”

“rose—”

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker.”

“It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson). I hope that in a few years’ time I will be joining him in celebrating growth rates that exceed the target objective. What a tour de force by the new Chancellor! If only we had had a general election back in the summer and autumn of 2022. T…”

“It is relevant, Madam Deputy Speaker. The hon. Gentleman mentioned my right hon. Friend the Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott), but had he warned her that he would be mentioning her in the Chamber?”

“It is almost two years since Warwickshire police issued a community protection notice against Warwickshire hunt. Eight months later, it was mysteriously replaced by a secret protocol. The police and crime commissioner, who receives financial support from the Countryside Alliance, claims that he knew nothing of the prot…”

“6. What steps her Department is taking to increase public trust and confidence in policing.”

“A really important part of improving health outcomes in the east midlands, and across the country, is the use of diagnostics. The Rosalind Franklin laboratory, which was set up in my constituency, was closed down just a few months ago at a cost of £0.6 billion. Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the most important t…”