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2,740 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceTo be clear, we terminated Mr Staunton’s role as chair of the Post Office not because of bullying accusations. There was an 80-page report, which he referred to yesterday, and…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI thank my hon. Friend for his work on this issue as one of my predecessors; I know that he was as keen as I am to ensure that full and fair compensation is paid to all…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI do think the chaos was caused by one individual. I sat through the whole session; for the bit I was not in the room with the right hon. Gentleman, I was watching on television.…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his work on the Select Committee. He is a doughty champion in this area and many others relating to the Committee’s work. There are…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI did find what happened yesterday unedifying, but that was about one person; everybody else who gave evidence yesterday was clear that there was no sense ever of trying to slow…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI will not give way, as I am answering the hon. Lady’s question.28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceWhen the hon. Lady says that I was “selective” about what I said, is she accusing me of being economical with the truth? If so, I would take exception to that. It would be…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceYes, of course I would be very happy to meet the hon. Lady and her constituent. Given what the hon. Lady has said, the place for her constituent to go is the Horizon shortfall…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI thank my hon. Friend for her question and for her work on the Select Committee. It is one thing to criticise Ministers, but entirely another to sully the good name of a civil…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI should say that the Secretary of State is abroad at a World Trade Organisation conference. I thank the hon. Lady once again from this Dispatch Box for all that she does on…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI sat there for five hours listening to all the evidence that was given to the Select Committee yesterday. Several serious allegations have now been made against the Government,…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceThankfully, not me. I have nothing against Mr Staunton personally. He had a strong track record as the chair of various large organisations, as he said yesterday. I think we would…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceAs ever, I thank the hon. Gentleman for his contribution. On the point about Government funds, I guess that he is referring to executives in the Post Office. Clearly, that is the…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI am very happy to come to the Dispatch Box any time I am required to, or feel that there is a need to, which, as the right hon. Gentleman says, is quite often at the moment. I…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI thank the hon. Lady for making that point and for representing her constituents so well. Yes, absolutely, we understand that this is distracting, or could distract, from work to…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI thank the hon. Lady for her question and for representing her constituents so effectively. I am keen to have continued conversation with her. All the schemes that have been…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI will be very pleased to ensure that that happens. I met the Northern Ireland Justice Minister virtually a few days ago to discuss these matters. I know that the Northern Ireland…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI totally agree with the hon. Gentleman’s final point, and a number of the points he made. It is fair to say that on the compensation schemes, we could use the old phrase, “If you…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceI think what we actually heard and saw was a dysfunctional former chair of the Post Office; that is what we saw. Interestingly, to the right hon. Gentleman’s point about…28 Feb 2024HANSARDPost Office Board and GovernanceWe are absolutely committed to ensuring that we have the resources available to settle compensation claims quickly. Certainly, a file note that I took away from yesterday’s…28 Feb 2024