Overview

This bill aims to provide compensation from the UK government to individuals harmed by the Post Office's Horizon system. It ensures that funds are available to settle claims arising from this flawed system and associated legal battles.

Description

The Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill authorizes the government to pay compensation to individuals affected by the Horizon system, a computer system previously used by Post Office Limited. This includes compensation for:

• Individuals directly harmed by the Horizon system's flaws.
• Individuals whose cases were identified in High Court judgments related to the Horizon system.

The bill specifically defines "the Horizon system" as previous versions of the computer system, including those sometimes referred to as Legacy Horizon, Horizon Online, or HNG-X. The money for compensation will come from public funds.

Government Spending

The bill allows for expenditure of government money to cover compensation payments. The exact amount is not specified in the bill itself, and will depend on the number and value of successful claims.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:

• Sub-Postmasters and Sub-Postmistresses: Those who were wrongly accused of theft or fraud due to the faulty Horizon system stand to receive compensation.
• Other individuals: Anyone impacted by the Horizon system in ways identified by High Court judgments will be eligible for compensation.
• UK Taxpayers: As the compensation comes from public funds, all UK taxpayers will indirectly contribute to the cost.

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