PRESS RELEASE : Compensation paid to over 2,700 claimants across Post Office compensation schemes [December 2023]
The press release issued by the Department for Business and Trade on 19 December 2023.
The government has today announced that circa £138m has so far been paid out to over 2,700 claimants across the three Post Office compensation schemes.
- New data reveals 27 overturned conviction claimants from Horizon Scandal have agreed full and final settlements
- 100% of original Horizon Shortfall Scheme claimants have also now been issued offers
- The Post Office Compensation Bill continues expedited passage through Parliament
The government has today [Tuesday 19 December] announced that circa £138m has so far been paid out to over 2,700 claimants across the three Post Office compensation schemes.
These figures have been announced as part of the government’s Post Office Compensation Bill which is expected to conclude its passage through the House of Commons today.
So far, 93 convictions have been overturned and it has been confirmed that the first 27 claims have agreed full and final settlements.
There has also been progress made on payments made for the 500 trailblazing postmasters who took the Post Office to court and exposed the Horizon Scandal has already paid out £27 million across 475 claimants. This includes 11 full and final settlements. A further 10 full and final settlements have been accepted, bringing the total number of accepted full and final settlements to 21.
The full 2,417 postmasters who claimed through the original Horizon Shortfall Scheme have now all had offers of compensation. £87 million has been paid out. The Post Office is now dealing with late applications and with those cases where the initial offer was not accepted.
Minister for Postal Affairs Kevin Hollinrake said:
Today’s new data on Post Office compensation is a step in the right direction to making sure every postmaster gets the justice and compensation that they have waited too long for.
It is important that everyone knows the truth about what happened, and that steps are being taken to right the wrongs of the past. Truth and accountability are one part of providing justice, and the other part is compensation.
The Post Office Horizon Scandal started in the 1990s and its impacts are still felt today.
This government is committed to delivering justice for all Horizon victims, which is why it set up the statutory inquiry chaired by Sir Wyn Williams.
We have also created the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board to help make sure all compensation is fair and just. Reports from the Advisory Board are published on gov.uk.
After today, the Post Office Compensation Bill, which will allow compensation to be paid under the Group Litigation Order (GLO) scheme past the 2024 deadline if needed, is expected to progress to the House of Lords for debate before securing Royal Assent in the new year.
Notes to editors:
- Information on GLO scheme correct as of 19 December and data on HSS and OC correct as of 18 December.
- Circa £138m in compensation paid includes:
- Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS): £87 million (including late claims)
- Group Litigation Order (GLO) Scheme: £27 million total value of all payments including interim payments
- Overturned Convictions (OC): £24 million total value of all payments including partial settlements and further interim payments
- Figures are rounded to the nearest £1m.
- Over 2,700 claimants receiving payments across Post Office compensation schemes includes those receiving interim and partial payments as well as full and final awards.
- Data on Post Office compensation schemes is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-office-horizon-compensation-data-for-2023. See notes for tables for further details.
