Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the findings set out in paragraphs 1024 and 1028 of the judgment of Bates and Others v the Post Office Ltd [2019] EWHC 3408 (QB), what plans they have to investigate the conduct of Ernst & Young in respect of their duties as auditors of the Post Office, under section 498(1) of the Companies Act 2006, regarding returns from Post Office branches.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is responsible for investigations of possible audit failures in cases of major public interest. The FRC is aware of possible questions as to the audit work conducted at the Post Office during the period in which issues arose with the Fujitsu Horizon system and is continuing to monitor developments in this case.