Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Offord of Garvel on 14 February (HL2130), whether the Government were informed of any action by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman resulting from the sub-postmaster's complaint.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) reports to Parliament directly and is held to account through the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Therefore, the Department for Business and Trade is unable to respond on their behalf.

The Ombudsman’s officials have indicated to my Department that they will take no further action on the complaint, at least until the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and the GLO compensation scheme have run their course.