On 23 March my Department launched its compensation scheme which aims to ensure that postmasters affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal who were part of the “GLO” High Court case get compensation on a similar basis to other postmasters.
To ensure that postmasters get fair, consistent and rapid compensation, the GLO Compensation Scheme Guidance and Principles document identifies the characteristics of moderate, serious and severe losses in some categories of compensation, including reputational damage and stigma, and gives figures indicating the likely range of awards. In the light of media comments on those figures I asked the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board to consider the matter. The group includes the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) and Lord Arbuthnot as well as two senior academics.
A report of the Board’s discussion is now available on the Department’s website. It recommends that the GLO Compensation Scheme’s guidance and principles should be amended to make it clear that:
The bands are not limits but indicative guidance to claimants, their lawyers and the Independent Panel.
Each case will be decided on its merits.
The GLO Compensation Scheme expects to find some cases where the facts of the case demand awards significantly higher than the upper figure for the top band.
If a claimant’s compensation cannot be agreed through the Alternative Dispute Resolution process, they have the right to have it considered by the Independent Panel including a KC and other experts.
As for other aspects of compensation, where the guidance and principles set out bands, decisions will be taken by DBT and the Independent Panel based on the facts of each case looked at “in the round” and guided by considerations of fairness.
I am happy to accept these recommendations. My Department will publish a revised version of the guidance and principles in due course.
[HCWS742]