Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 13 October 2025 entitled Volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry report: Government response to recommendations, HCWS937, what the estimated cost is of funding legal advice for appeals; and how he plans to ensure timely access to that funding.

My Department will start publishing legal costs associated with Horizon Shortfall Scheme Appeals as part of the quarterly legal cost publication on GOV.UK. The next legal costs publication is scheduled for early November.

We work closely with legal representatives and encourage claimants to seek funded legal advice. We have processes in place to ensure prompt payment, provided guidance in the published tariff is followed.