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2,740 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsWe are very keen to find out exactly who knew what, and Sir Wyn Williams’s inquiry was made statutory so that people could have access to all the information. There is nothing to…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsLet me be clear about this. I am not taking the position that we should remove the CBE, and that should not be our position, because we have not yet assigned blame to individuals.…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsMy hon. Friend is right that Alan Bates has said he will not accept his OBE until Paula Vennells’ CBE has been withdrawn. That is another good reason for her to hand back her CBE,…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsI agree with that description. The dramatisation was indeed chilling, not least that part of it. It made you feel physically sick to keep hearing those words spoken to individual…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsTo answer: yes, yes and yes. Yes, we want a rapid legal process, and that is exactly what we are discussing today. I am keen to deliver that as quickly as possible. The Post…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsOnce again, I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend’s constituent, Alan Bates, who was very much the star of the show, both in the dramatisation and in reality. It is because of his…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsI thank the hon. Gentleman for all his work on this matter. He has been a constant contributor to these debates to make sure that we see justice for his constituents and other…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsOn behalf of the Government and the Post Office, I apologise for what happened to Della Robinson. These are tragic cases, as the hon. Gentleman says, with people losing not just…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsI totally agree with my right hon. Friend. As Ministers, we must bear responsibility for what we do, as well as expect people within the Post Office, Fujitsu and others to bear…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsThe hon. Lady raises an important point. That is exactly what we are trying to do, and what the statement is all about. As I said, we have compensated 64% of victims thus far with…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsI would not feel good about that at all. My right hon. Friend makes an important point. I will take it away and take advice on it. That would not seem to me to be an appropriate…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsMy right hon. Friend raises important points. That is exactly the experience so far: people will not take part—of course, the Criminal Cases Review Commission can only do so much…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsI share the hon. Lady’s point that the dramatisation was invaluable in raising awareness and in making sure that we bring forward measures as quickly as possible—all things that…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsI agree with all the hon. Gentleman’s points. Swift and fair compensation—absolutely. An immediate overturning of convictions is something that we are looking to achieve as soon…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsThat is exactly what we are attempting to do. I have met Jo Hamilton. She is a wonderful and incredibly tenacious individual, and one would never guess from her disposition that…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsI thank my right hon. Friend for his question. I entirely agree; the programme brought the scandal into everybody’s living rooms, and although many people were vaguely or even…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsThe hon. and learned Lady is right to point out malicious prosecution, which forms part of the compensation package available to those people who have convictions. In terms of…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsThe hon. Gentleman has contributed to virtually every debate or statement on this matter, and I thank him for his work on it. We agree with him, and indeed the compensation…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsMy right hon. Friend raises an interesting point. Certainly, the Horizon shortfall scheme should compensate anybody who was directly affected by the scandal—not just financially…08 Jan 2024HANSARDHorizon: Compensation and ConvictionsThe hon. Member raises an important point. We have written to all the people with convictions, for example, to say, “Please come forward.” It is not about a lack of ability to…08 Jan 2024