, Chair of the Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy Committee, has commented on
the Government’s
announcement of an Independent review into the Post
Office Horizon IT System.
, Chair of the Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy
Committee said: “The Minister’s
announcement of the Independent Review into the Post Office
Horizon scandal is welcome. However, without a
judge-led inquiry it is not clear this review will have the
necessary powers to demand evidence and require witnesses to give
evidence.
“To get to the bottom of this scandal, the Government should
look at ensuring this review is put on a statutory basis with
subpoena powers to summon witnesses and compel them to give
evidence under oath.
“The independent Review should look at the respective roles
of Post Office Ltd Directors, past and present, and Fujitsu, but
also Ministers and officials and their role in holding Post
Office Ltd to account. It’s important that those responsible are
held accountable and that the Post Office and the Government
learn the lessons from this scandal and prevent this mistreatment
of dedicated sub-postmasters and postal staff from ever arising
again.”
Background: Last week, wrote to current Post Office Ltd CEO, Nick
Read, the former CEO, Paula
Vennells, and to Fujitsu [letters
available via links] with a series of questions relating to the
handling of the Horizon IT scandal and the BEIS
Committee’s inquiry. The
Committee intends to publish the responses to the correspondence
as part of its inquiry.
The Committee’s evidence session on 24 March on the Post Office
and Horizon with Post Office
Ltd CEO, Nick Read, the former CEO, Paula Vennells, and Fujitsu
had been scheduled for Tuesday
24thMarch but was postponed due to the
Covid-19 lockdown
The BEIS Committee’s inquiry has been looking at the impact on
sub-postmasters and its effect on the future viability of the
Post Office, and examining the lessons the Government and Post
Office Ltd had learned from a scandal which saw hundreds of
sub-postmasters accused of fraud.
On Tuesday 10 March, the BEIS Committee heard from
the following witnesses: Alan Bates, Justice for Sub-postmasters
Alliance and former sub-postmaster, Wendy Buffrey, former
sub-postmaster, Tracy Felstead, former Post Office worker, Andy
Furey, Deputy General-Secretary, Communication Workers Union,
Calum Greenhow, CEO, National Federation of Sub-postmasters, Ron
Warmington, Second Sight Forensic Accountants, Ian Henderson,
Second Sight Forensic Accountants.
