.
Review will
consider whether Post Office Ltd has learned necessary lessons from
the Horizon dispute
· Will
also provide an independent assessment of the Post Office’s work
to rebuild its relationship with its postmasters
· Draft
terms of reference published in the House of Commons
today
The government
will shortly launch an independent review to consider whether
Post Office Ltd has learned lessons from the Horizon dispute and
court case, and made the changes needed to ensure a similar case
cannot happen again.
Today, Small
Business and Postal Affairs Minister announced the draft terms of
reference for the review via a written ministerial
statement laid in the House
of Commons.
It follows Post
Office Ltd reaching a settlement of £57.75 million in
December 2019 to conclude a long-running civil court case brought
against it by a group of postmasters over issues related to its
Horizon IT system.
Small
Business and Postal Affairs Minister
said:
“The Horizon
dispute and court case has had a devastating impact on the lives
of many postmasters, and I have been deeply moved by the
individual stories of those I have spoken
to.
“It is so
important that a case like this can never happen
again.
“That is why this
government is committed to establishing an independent review to
ensure that lessons have been learned, and that concrete changes
have taken place at Post Office
Ltd.
“We are keen to
see the review launch as soon as possible, and the publication of
draft terms of reference today is an important step toward
this.”
The terms of
reference and the final timings for the review are subject to
confirmation by the chair, who will be fully independent of Post
Office Ltd. and the government. A chair will be appointed and
announced in due course.