CCRC Decision on 44 Post Office Prosecutions

Andrew Gwynne Excerpts
Monday 5th October 2020

(3 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Paul Scully Portrait Paul Scully
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I thank my hon. Friend for that, and as I have said, I pay tribute to the work that the Committee has done. The Government will certainly consider the very many sensible points that have been raised in the report, and we will report back in due course.

Andrew Gwynne Portrait Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab) [V]
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My constituent Della Robinson was formerly a local sub-postmistress in Dukinfield, and she lost almost everything in this scandal, including her reputation. I welcome the latest announcement, but when did the Minister know that the Post Office would not oppose the appeals, what discussions did he have with Post Office officials and did they discuss the amount this would cost the Post Office and, ultimately, taxpayers?

Paul Scully Portrait Paul Scully
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We discuss that with the Post Office regularly, and it is the Post Office’s decision not to oppose the appeals. This is clearly part of the recognition that it got things wrong so much over a period of time. I am glad that this change of approach is something that can get to the bottom of sub-postmasters’ questions and clearly right the wrongs of the past.