Overview of the Act
- The Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Act will help delivery of full and fair compensation to postmasters who have suffered as a consequence of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, including those who were litigants in legal proceedings the subject of a "Group Litigation Order" (GLO) (Bates and Others v Post Office) which exposed the scandal and shortcomings of the Post Office Limited ("the Post Office"). It will establish the financial authority (necessary for regularity reasons) to enable the Secretary of State for Business and Trade ("the Secretary of State") to make compensation awards by way of ex gratia payment under the current GLO Scheme after the existing power ceases to be available in August 2024, if it proves necessary to do so. However, it remains the Government’s intention to complete the Scheme before that date. The Act also provides the Secretary of State with authority for the payment of compensation under other schemes or other arrangements established to compensate persons affected by the Horizon IT system and in respect of other matters identified in legal proceedings related to the Horizon system.
- The Act contains two Sections.
- Section 1 provides the power to incur expenditure.
- Section 2 specifies the Act’s short title.
