Written statement on Post Office: continuing Horizon Inquiry participation costs - Mar 19

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Enterprise and Markets (Kevin Hollinrake): In October 2023, I announced our intention to provide funding of up to £150 million plus any contingency that may be required to support the Post Office fully participating in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and to support the delivery of redress to postmasters.

Since then, those costs have increased and the Government has decided to provide access to contingency funding, and award a further £40m to ensure Post Office can continue to deliver this important work. Government remains determined to address the wrongs of the Horizon scandal.

In accordance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, the Department for Business and Trade’s assessment of the funding’s compliance with the subsidy control principles was previously referred to the Subsidy Advice Unit. A report was published, which concluded that the Department had “conducted an assessment which considers the subsidy’s compliance with the subsidy control principles in line with the Statutory Guidance”.