Minister: Postmasters exoneration law expected next month
A law aimed at exonerating postmasters caught up in the Horizon scandal is expected to be brought forward “as soon as possible next month”, the Commons has heard. Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake made the claim as he updated MPs on the Government’s plans. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Transcript
00:00 Since this terrible miscarriage of justice was first exposed,
00:03 the government has been working tirelessly to put matters right for postmasters.
00:07 We have set up an independent inquiry and funded various redress schemes,
00:12 which we have continuously improved so that we can speed up compensation for all affected.
00:18 This work has been taking place for many months and long before ITV aired the excellent programme,
00:26 Mr Bates vs. the Post Office.
00:29 That includes our announcement last autumn of the optional £600,000 Fixum award for those who have been wrongfully convicted.
00:37 We continue to develop our response to this scandal and on Thursday I made a written statement
00:42 detailing the way in which we plan to legislate to overturn Horizon related convictions en masse.
00:49 We expect to introduce that legislation as soon as possible next month. Such legislation is unprecedented and
00:59 constitutionally sensitive, but this scandal is unprecedented too.
01:03 I am clear that this legislation does not set a precedent for the future,
01:08 nor is it a reflection on the actions of the courts and judiciary,
01:13 who have dealt swiftly with the cases before them.