right honourable spoken to the right honourable memberfor durham north spoken to the right honourable member for durham north and spoken to the right honourable memberfor durham north and others and have had a very positive meeting this afternoon with my right honourable friend the lord chancellor. all of us on these benches and across the house are united in our desire to see justice done. we have devised some options for resolving the outstanding criminal convictions with much more pace. my right honourable from the lord chancellor will quite rightly need to speak to senior figures in thejudiciary about need to speak to senior figures in the judiciary about these options before we put them forward. but i'm confident that we should be able to implement measures which address the concerns expressed by the advisory board and i hope the government shall be able to announce these proposals of course, there is clearly great concern about the role of the post office in prosecuting these cases also the post office quite rightly decided to stop undertaking private

prosecutions into thousand 15. if we are to make sure that escande like this can never happen again, we need to look at the way in which private prosecutions like these have been undertaken. any company can bring private prosecutions in this way. this is not a special power of the post office, i know my right honourable friend the lord chancellor wants to give this issue proper and thoughtful consideration and i am sure he will report to the house about this issue in due course. getting justice for the victims of this candle and ensuring that such a tragedy can never happen again is my highest priority as a minister and has been throughout my 15 months in office. when we talk about compensation, we have to remember that the lives of postmasters and their families caught up in this scandal have been changed forever. they face financial ruin, untold personal distress and a loss of reputation that no amount of financial compensation can fully restore. the government recognises

however that we have a clear moral duty to right these wrongs to the best of our ability. to support those lives were turned upside down by this scandal, we are providing significant funding for compensation. and we have been clear that it should not be the taxpayer alone who picks up the tab. we will wait for the inquiry to report to make clear the extent any other organisations�*s culpability to the scandal and for any individual accountability. ouraim scandal and for any individual accountability. our aim is to ensure that every victim is fully recompensed for their losses and the suffering they have had to endure. today over £148 million has been paid to 2700 victims across all compensation schemes. 93 convictions have been overturned and of these, 30 have agreed full and final sediments. just over £30 million has been paid out in compensation to those with overturned convictions, including interim payments. of

course we want to ensure the process for agreeing compensation is fair, transparent and is open for independent assessment. that is one of the reasons why today, i am announcing retired high courtjudge sir gary higginbotham has agreed to chair an independent panel that will assess the losses of those postmasters with overturned convictions where disputes arise. this will bring oversight in a similar way to the oversight in a similar way to the oversight of the group mitigation order scheme and the independent panel in the horizon shortfall scheme. the original 555 courageous postmasters took the post office to court and first brought the horizon scandal into the public eye, £27 million has been paid out to a77 claimants. in addition to the net £11 million received through the settlement. a7 numbers of the original group have

also received compensation following the overturning of their convictions, totalling over £17 million. we have received full claim form from 59 of those postmasters who were eligible for the scheme and issued a3 offers. nervion 2121 who were eligible for the scheme and issued a3 offers. nervion 21 21 and final sediments paid and a further seven full and final sediments accepted. that brings the total number of excepted full and final settlements to 28. i would encourage claimants lawyers to get you to submit glo claims because my department stands ready to review them and turn them around quickly. it is worth noting too that the 2a70 postmasters who have claimed through the original horizon shortfall scheme have now all received offers of compensation, around 85% have accepted these offers, worth over £107 million. in total over 91 million pounds has been paid out in this scheme, with the post office now deal with late applications and with cases where initial offers were

not accepted. mr speaker this is not just about compensation, it is about restoration, the wrist during a peoples good names and the restoring of the publics trust both in our postal service and in ourjustice system. it is therefore only right that we get to the bottom of what went wrong, of who knew what and when. while the skill of the problem is immense, the government is unwavering in its resolve to tackle it to compensate those affected, and to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice. to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit ofjustice. we owe that to the victims, to their families, to the victims, to their families, to the memory of postmasters who have died since this tragedy first came to light. and to those who tragically took their own lives after being accused of awful crimes they never committed. we owe it to everyone who has been caught up in this tragic miscarriage ofjustice. can i think honourable members

across this house supporting us in this effort? together, we stand united, notjust in memory of those who have suffered but in shared purpose, to ensure such a tragedy can never and will never happen again. and i commend this statements to the house. again. and i commend this statements to the house-— to the house. jonathan reynolds. thank you. _ to the house. jonathan reynolds. thank you. mr — to the house. jonathan reynolds. thank you, mr deputy _ to the house. jonathan reynolds. thank you, mr deputy speaker, i to the house. jonathan reynolds. l thank you, mr deputy speaker, and can i think_ thank you, mr deputy speaker, and can i think the minister for an advance — can i think the minister for an advance copy of his statement? the horizon _ advance copy of his statement? the horizon post office failure has been a scandal_ horizon post office failure has been a scandal we have been responding to for some _ a scandal we have been responding to for some time, but i welcome the weight— for some time, but i welcome the weight the — for some time, but i welcome the weight the recent itv drama has brought— weight the recent itv drama has brought the story to a wider audience. it is a powerful reminder of the _ audience. it is a powerful reminder of the weight art and culture can be used to— of the weight art and culture can be used to tackle injustice and to raise — used to tackle injustice and to raise public awareness. i would also like to— raise public awareness. i would also like to pager beat as i have done before _ like to pager beat as i have done before to — like to pager beat as i have done before to the supposed masters and chameera honourable friend for north to rome _ chameera honourable friend for north to rome and to all those members whose _ to rome and to all those members whose work has been integral in the progress _ whose work has been integral in the progress to— whose work has been integral in the progress to date to get justice ——

north— progress to date to get justice —— north durham. a lot has been done, but there _ north durham. a lot has been done, but there is— north durham. a lot has been done, but there is as we all know a lot more to— but there is as we all know a lot more to do _ but there is as we all know a lot more to do. the horizon scandal is quite _ more to do. the horizon scandal is quite simply— more to do. the horizon scandal is quite simply one of the most egregious miscarriages ofjustice in british— egregious miscarriages ofjustice in british history. something which robs people of their lives, their liberty— robs people of their lives, their liberty and their livelihoods. driven— liberty and their livelihoods. driven by the misguided belief that technology was infallible and workers dishonest. the post office prosecuted innocent people, causing unimaginable pain and suffering which _ unimaginable pain and suffering which no — unimaginable pain and suffering which no amount of compensation can ever alleviate. yet to add insult to injury. _ ever alleviate. yet to add insult to injury. the — ever alleviate. yet to add insult to injury, the journey tojustice ever alleviate. yet to add insult to injury, the journey to justice for those _ injury, the journey to justice for those of— injury, the journey to justice for those of postmasters has been mired by a great _ those of postmasters has been mired by a great many delays and barriers. and we _ by a great many delays and barriers. and we know some of the people affected — and we know some of the people affected have tragically passed away before _ affected have tragically passed away before they have ever had the chance to see _ before they have ever had the chance to see justice. i would like to place — to see justice. i would like to place on _ to see justice. i would like to place on record and i recognise the attention this minister has given this matter, including responding positively— this matter, including responding positively to the campaign to ensure compensation payments. but it is still an—

compensation payments. but it is still an urgent priority to get compensation to all those affected and it— compensation to all those affected and it is— compensation to all those affected and it is unconscionable that convictions still remain where it is clear— convictions still remain where it is clear no— convictions still remain where it is clear no wrongdoing has been committed. justice must be served as workers _ committed. justice must be served as workers and _ committed. justice must be served as workers and their families and that is why— workers and their families and that is why labour has called for all sub postmasters to be exonerated in full. postmasters to be exonerated in fuib i_ postmasters to be exonerated in full. i listen very carefully to what — full. i listen very carefully to what the _ full. i listen very carefully to what the minister had to say about this and _ what the minister had to say about this and i_ what the minister had to say about this and i want to extend our sopport_ this and i want to extend our support for any actions that may be required _ support for any actions that may be required to— support for any actions that may be required to overturn these convictions as quickly as possible. whilst _ convictions as quickly as possible. whilst ensuring no victim has to reenter— whilst ensuring no victim has to reenter litigation and relive the trauma — reenter litigation and relive the trauma they've experienced i appreciate the minister's acknowledgement the public want to know this _ acknowledgement the public want to know this will happen as soon as possible — know this will happen as soon as possible and i also welcome the review _ possible and i also welcome the review he — possible and i also welcome the review he announced into private prosecutions, because the public do want assurance that nothing like this can — want assurance that nothing like this can ever be allowed to happen again _ this can ever be allowed to happen again mr— this can ever be allowed to happen again. mr deputy speaker is right that the _ again. mr deputy speaker is right that the inquiry continues to uncover— that the inquiry continues to uncover the truth, butjust

that the inquiry continues to uncover the truth, but just when that the inquiry continues to uncover the truth, butjust when it was felt _ uncover the truth, butjust when it was felt this outrageous miscarriage ofjustice _ was felt this outrageous miscarriage ofjustice could not get any worse, more _ ofjustice could not get any worse, more allegations have come to the four more allegations have come to the tour which— more allegations have come to the four which must now surely be considered as a part of that inquiry _ considered as a part of that inquiry. today, i understand it has emerged _ inquiry. today, i understand it has emerged there were dozens more victirns _ emerged there were dozens more victirns for— emerged there were dozens more victims for a pilot scheme. i myself have _ victims for a pilot scheme. i myself have just _ victims for a pilot scheme. i myself have just learned this afternoon from _ have just learned this afternoon from one — have just learned this afternoon from one of my constituents that they've _ from one of my constituents that they've only been informed very recently — they've only been informed very recently that they are a victim of this scandal. and i asked the minister— this scandal. and i asked the minister again, what steps the governments are taken to ensure every— governments are taken to ensure every victim identified and encouraged him forward? it is also clear— encouraged him forward? it is also clear that — encouraged him forward? it is also clear that fujitsu are facing very serous — clear that fujitsu are facing very serous questions that demand a response — serous questions that demand a response. those questions must be answered _ response. those questions must be answered in — response. those questions must be answered in the evident sessions planned — answered in the evident sessions planned for the inquiry later this year~ _ planned for the inquiry later this year~ and — planned for the inquiry later this year. and if it is found that fujitsu _ year. and if it is found that fujitsu knew the extent of what was occurring. _ fujitsu knew the extent of what was occurring, they will have to become the guinces — occurring, they will have to become the quinces that match the scale of the quinces that match the scale of the injustice. —— they will have to become — the injustice. —— they will have to become to— the injustice. —— they will have to become to quinces. those involved in the run _ become to quinces. those involved in the run of— become to quinces. those involved in the run of the post office who have

received _ the run of the post office who have received honours must be held to the hi-h received honours must be held to the high standard those honours demand. they will— high standard those honours demand. they will also have the opportunity to give _ they will also have the opportunity to give their side of the story in the inquiry, but if that evidence is unsatisfactory, i would urge the forfeiture — unsatisfactory, i would urge the forfeiture committee to consider the propriety— forfeiture committee to consider the propriety of those honours and to take any— propriety of those honours and to take any further appropriate action. mr deputy— take any further appropriate action. mr deputy speaker, for many people who watched the itv adaptation, it will be _ who watched the itv adaptation, it will be hard to believe that this ongoing — will be hard to believe that this ongoing tragedy is not a work of fiction — ongoing tragedy is not a work of fiction so — ongoing tragedy is not a work of fiction. so egregious and pernicious, how the impact has been on peopies _ pernicious, how the impact has been on peoples lives, but this is not a tv show. — on peoples lives, but this is not a tv show. it — on peoples lives, but this is not a tv show, it is very real and has had very real world impacts. lessons must _ very real world impacts. lessons must be — very real world impacts. lessons must be learned and justice must be served _ must be learned and justice must be served i_ must be learned and justice must be served. i have faith that the williams _ served. i have faith that the williams inquiry will ensure those responsible are held to account. it is right— responsible are held to account. it is right that those innocent people have those convictions overturned, as the _ have those convictions overturned, as the minister has said, notjoe they— as the minister has said, notjoe they can — as the minister has said, notjoe they can begin to turn the page on this candie — they can begin to turn the page on this candle but to ensure that it ieads— this candle but to ensure that it leads to — this candle but to ensure that it leads to the quick access to compensation they rightly deserve ——

this scandai~ — compensation they rightly deserve —— this scandal. however i believe this will be _ this scandal. however i believe this wiii be just— this scandal. however i believe this will be just one of the many steps required _ will be just one of the many steps required if— will be just one of the many steps required if the man's are able to -- if --ifa —— if a man's are —— ifa man's are everto be made. minister~ _ -- if a man's are ever to be made. minister. , ., ., ., ~ minister. very grateful. can i thank him for his — minister. very grateful. can i thank him for his kind _ minister. very grateful. can i thank him for his kind words _ minister. very grateful. can i thank him for his kind words and - minister. very grateful. can i thank him for his kind words and support| him for his kind words and support and also the which his response the statement? we share an ambition in terms of the exoneration. that is something we want to do and i am very happy to work with him to make sure we get into the right place. he raises a very important point on people involved in a pilot scheme of horizon. this is an issue raised also by the right honourable member for north durham. we want to make sure every single victim is properly covered by the various schemes. i've asked anybody who has evidence of any kind, including the right honourable memberfrom north thuram, to furnish me with details and i will make sure we pick up any bloody left outside the schemes —— anybody

left outside the schemes —— anybody left outside the schemes. he mentioned fujitsu and i concur with his points. anybody shown to be responsible for this scandal should be held accountable, including making any payments into the taxpayers fund for that. in terms of the honour system, i accept what he says. as i've said before on a number of occasions. as far as i'm concerned there is no reason anybody, i speak as a former ceo, and this is not for any specific that happened, and the williams inquiry is there to identify responsibility, but as a ceo who is overseeing the post office during a critical time, where things went so badly wrong, i think the former ceo myself, i would say it would be perfectly reasonable to ask somebody to voluntarily hang back and honours in that specific honour, but that is a matterfor the person concerned of course. a matter for the person concerned of

course. ., ., ., , a matter for the person concerned of course-_ can - a matter for the person concerned of course-_ can i i course. father of the house. can i refer my honourable _ course. father of the house. can i refer my honourable friend - course. father of the house. can i refer my honourable friend to - refer my honourable friend to the article _ refer my honourable friend to the article in — refer my honourable friend to the article in the journal of crime injustice? _ article in the journal of crime injustice? the article by mcguire mr, injustice? the article by mcguire mr. harm — injustice? the article by mcguire mr, harm and justice injustice? the article by mcguire mr, harm andjustice in injustice? the article by mcguire mr, harm and justice in technology reflection _ mr, harm and justice in technology reflection of the uk submaster skates — reflection of the uk submaster skates. it shows on page aaa the graph— skates. it shows on page aaa the graph of— skates. it shows on page aaa the graph of the prosecutions which rose from ten _ graph of the prosecutions which rose from ten in _ graph of the prosecutions which rose from ten in 1997 to nearly 80 in 2001 _ from ten in 1997 to nearly 80 in 2001. people responsible should have noticed _ 2001. people responsible should have noticed that you are not going to -et noticed that you are not going to get ordinary, decent people, sub postmasters, suddenly going crooked on that— postmasters, suddenly going crooked on that scale. secondly, if the article — on that scale. secondly, if the article is — on that scale. secondly, if the article is read, it talks about the bugs which were named after the sub postmasters where they were discovered. the dell matting team iju l , discovered. the dell matting team bug. the _ discovered. the dell matting team bug, the square bug, and i also refer— bug, the square bug, and i also refer my— bug, the square bug, and i also refer my honourable friend to the article _ refer my honourable friend to the article in — refer my honourable friend to the article in the sun talking about my

constituent who gave up in 2008, having _ constituent who gave up in 2008, having been losing £400 week after week. _ having been losing £400 week after week. she _ having been losing £400 week after week, she got the post office investigators down, who claimed they could not— investigators down, who claimed they could not find anything to explain what _ could not find anything to explain what has — could not find anything to explain what has happened. she had to sell out. what has happened. she had to sell out she _ what has happened. she had to sell out. she lost her home, took on work as a camera — out. she lost her home, took on work as a camera. she is illustrative of those _ as a camera. she is illustrative of those who— as a camera. she is illustrative of those who are convicted and those who gave — those who are convicted and those who gave up before they were prosecuted, there are so many people who actually now believe that the horizon _ who actually now believe that the horizon scheme was set up for one purpose. _ horizon scheme was set up for one purpose, adapted to another, but he did not— purpose, adapted to another, but he did not work, and when people started — did not work, and when people started entering things twice, it was apparently a loss where the post office _ was apparently a loss where the post office actually did not lose any money — office actually did not lose any money if _ office actually did not lose any money. if the post office were not losing _ money. if the post office were not losing money, how could people property— losing money, how could people properly be prosecuted and the titanic— properly be prosecuted and the titanic ever was the belief in technology. —— and the titanic ever. again. _ technology. —— and the titanic ever. again. i_ technology. —— and the titanic ever. again. ithank— technology. —— and the titanic ever. again, i thank him for his question and points. itotally again, i thank him for his question and points. i totally agree with him, people should be held

responsible or they are shown to have willfully neglected their duties, and that is whether through a shortage of inquiry, investigation, he raises an important point about the attitude of courts towards computer—based evidence, technology—based evidence, and i know that my right honourable from the look chancellor looking at that particular issue as well. it is something i brought to his attention —— the right honourable lord chancellor. he is alerted to that as well. i was sorry to hear about his constituent, mrs shaw. i take it she will have applied to the horizon shortfall scheme which should compensate people like mrs shaw. if you would like any assistance make sure that is happening i'm very happy to provide it. sim? happy to provide it. snp spokesperson. - happy to provide it. snp spokesperson. you - happy to provide it. snp| spokesperson. you were happy to provide it. snp i spokesperson. you were in happy to provide it. snp - spokesperson. you were in the happy to provide it. snp _ spokesperson. you were in the chair on the 19th — spokesperson. you were in the chair on the 19th of _ spokesperson. you were in the chair on the 19th of december— spokesperson. you were in the chair on the 19th of december when - spokesperson. you were in the chair on the 19th of december when we i spokesperson. you were in the chair i

on the 19th of december when we last discussed _ on the 19th of december when we last discussed horizon compensation bill and i discussed horizon compensation bill and i don't _ discussed horizon compensation bill and i don't think any of us then who knew— and i don't think any of us then who knew about — and i don't think any of us then who knew about the tv drama would have believed _ knew about the tv drama would have believed the impact that it has had. ithink— believed the impact that it has had. i think it _ believed the impact that it has had. i think it is — believed the impact that it has had. i think it is bittersweet that it has had — i think it is bittersweet that it has had such an effect. i think it is really— has had such an effect. i think it is really telling that mps, peers, media. _ is really telling that mps, peers, media, loads and loads of people tried to _ media, loads and loads of people tried to bring this into the public consciousness and it did not, we did not manage — consciousness and it did not, we did not manage to do that, as effectively as this tv drama. i should — effectively as this tv drama. i should also say thank you to the minister— should also say thank you to the minister for pre—site of his statement. just today, i've been contacted — statement. just today, i've been contacted by local subpostmasters. they had _ contacted by local subpostmasters. they had shortfalls. they paid money back to _ they had shortfalls. they paid money back to the _ they had shortfalls. they paid money back to the post office to many of them _ back to the post office to many of them walked away, retired, and they now have _ them walked away, retired, and they now have no — them walked away, retired, and they now have no evidence about what happened. — now have no evidence about what happened, because when you walk away from a _ happened, because when you walk away from a post— happened, because when you walk away from a post office, all of the financial— from a post office, all of the financial documentation goes back to

post office _ financial documentation goes back to post office limited. can we have a thought _ post office limited. can we have a thought about that, minister? can you also— thought about that, minister? can you also confirm that all this money did go— you also confirm that all this money did go back— you also confirm that all this money did go back to post office limited, and hence — did go back to post office limited, and hence the profits on which many processes _ and hence the profits on which many processes over the years were paid -- many— processes over the years were paid —— many bonuses were paid to post office _ —— many bonuses were paid to post office executives? could we have pressure — office executives? could we have pressure put on those people to repay— pressure put on those people to repay those bonuses? the minister's statement. _ repay those bonuses? the minister's statement, there is very little in it i statement, there is very little in it i would — statement, there is very little in it i would disagree with and i think there _ it i would disagree with and i think there has— it i would disagree with and i think there has to be a real consensus across the — there has to be a real consensus across the chamber on this, but some words _ across the chamber on this, but some words did _ across the chamber on this, but some words did spring out at me things like very— words did spring out at me things like very shortly and in due course. can we _ like very shortly and in due course. can we please have fixed timelines on when _ can we please have fixed timelines on when we get reports back? i want to mention _ on when we get reports back? i want to mention sir when williams, which ifirst— to mention sir when williams, which i first met _ to mention sir when williams, which i first met when i he first took on the inquiry when it became _ he first took on the inquiry when it became statutory, i was impressed by him, became statutory, i was impressed by him. but _ became statutory, i was impressed by

him. but i _ became statutory, i was impressed by him, but i really understood he was going _ him, but i really understood he was going to _ him, but i really understood he was going to get to the bottom of what has happened and he has done that in spite of— has happened and he has done that in spite of previous failures on behalf of post— spite of previous failures on behalf of post office limited. there must, must _ of post office limited. there must, must be _ of post office limited. there must, must be accountability for all in post— must be accountability for all in post office limited and fujitsu, who prosecuted and persecuted sub postmasters over the years and i pledge _ postmasters over the years and i pledge that these snp benches will continue to put pressure on government of any colour to keep the momentum _ government of any colour to keep the momentum going on this, to ensure justice _ momentum going on this, to ensure justice and _ momentum going on this, to ensure justice and realjustice, is served, and if— justice and realjustice, is served, and if that— justice and realjustice, is served, and if that involves more pressure on the _ and if that involves more pressure on the former ceo and for people who received _ on the former ceo and for people who received honours because of the work they did _ received honours because of the work they did in _ received honours because of the work they did in post office limited, i know— they did in post office limited, i know the — they did in post office limited, i know the minister is nodding, he will agree — know the minister is nodding, he will agree with me. can know the minister is nodding, he will agree with me.— will agree with me. can i thank her for her questions _ will agree with me. can i thank her for her questions and indeed - will agree with me. can i thank her for her questions and indeed for i for her questions and indeed for her work on the all party group for post

offices? thank you. in terms of the case she raises with the postmasters who have suffered financially, and have difficulty providing buzz of lack of evidence, the benefit of be with the post masters and the situation. if she needs help with any of this case is i'm very happy to assist. whether people repeat bonuses or whatever else evil are held accountable for, i thing we should wait to be fair to the results of the inquiry. i think we believe on the basis of process in this house and it is right that people have a right to reply and give their own evidence. i review with her and confidence in server williams, was done a tremendous job. i am sorry i cannot be... more precise in my timescales, but i would be very disappointed if we were past the end of this week in terms of giving more information to this house, but an in terms of the

accountability of individuals, i entirely agree with her. for all reasons ofjustice but also acting as a deterrent for anybody else has ever attempted to do the wrong thing in these circumstances, in these corporate failures and corporate abuses, it cannot continue, and we need to make sure people realise it happens, they will be held to account. 5h happens, they will be held to account. ,, ~ ,, -- sir —— sir david davis. can i think the minister for the sterling _ davis. can i think the minister for the sterling work— davis. can i think the minister for the sterling work they _ davis. can i think the minister for the sterling work they have i davis. can i think the minister for| the sterling work they have done? the government to do four things. southee _ the government to do four things. southee post office unnecessarily challenging the victims appeals and find more _ challenging the victims appeals and find more rapid method to exonerate the innocent victims. to instruct the innocent victims. to instruct the post— the innocent victims. to instruct the post office to stop hiring expensive lawyers to challenge the compensation claims and therefore to accelerate _ compensation claims and therefore to accelerate claimant payment, to strip _ accelerate claimant payment, to strip her— accelerate claimant payment, to strip her the post office rate to police — strip her the post office rate to police its — strip her the post office rate to police its own cases and to

accelerate the investigator he procedures prior to criminal prosecutions of the real villains in this case — prosecutions of the real villains in this case. which of course are, we know— this case. which of course are, we know who — this case. which of course are, we know who they are. does the minister believed he _ know who they are. does the minister believed he can achieve those four aims _ believed he can achieve those four aims in _ believed he can achieve those four aims in months rather than years? can i_ aims in months rather than years? can i thinking for his kind words and his work —— thank him. and i also can get laid him on his recent announcement himself? the whole of yorkshire are rejoicing at his award. i can assure him on all four counts, yes, we want a more rapid means of owner turning convictions, yes, we want to make sure the post office does not challenge unfairly any attempt to overturn those convictions, yes, in terms of making sure the investigator re—process happens more quickly. 0f sure the investigator re—process happens more quickly. of course, some of these matters are out of our control, the separation of powers,

but in terms of the actual policing of cases, i am happy to talk to them after this statement in terms of what precisely he means by that. in terms of the with the composition skins already, there is independent elements to all that, they have not been policed —— compensation schemes. part of all this processes. very happy to talk to him in detail about what we can do in those areas. chair of the select committee. that was kevin chair of the select committee. was kevin hollinrake at the post office minister talking the house of commons the horizon scandal is in his words one of the greatest miscarriages ofjustice in our nations history. he also said the government is working on options for resolving convictions and he said that it should not be the taxpayer alone who picks up the tab. he also added he is pleased the icv drama has brought understanding of the scandal to a much broader audience -- itv scandal to a much broader audience —— itv drama.

live now to our correspondent pete saull, who is at westminster. how significant is this latest update, pete?— how significant is this latest u date, pete? �* ., ., how significant is this latest u date, pete? �* . ., , update, pete? bear in mind that this sub'ect has update, pete? bear in mind that this subject has been _ update, pete? bear in mind that this subject has been debated _ update, pete? bear in mind that this subject has been debated many, i update, pete? bear in mind that this i subject has been debated many, many times before in the houses of parliament, what has really brought it right up to the top of the political agenda again is this itv drama which has been watched by millions. there is renewed pressure on that minister kevin hollinrake, the postal affairs minister, to speed up the compensation for those many, many victims of the horizon scandal but also to ensure their convictions are overturned, more than 700 wrongly convicted, only about 100 or so have actually had those convictions overturned, he said they would be looking at a range of options to speed the process is up, he also announced there would be an independent panel chaired by a judge who would oversee the compensation scheme, to ensure that individuals are getting all of the money that they are entitled to, but it resolved really from both sides of the house of commons to get

on with it. a lot of politicians would have been getting in the neck for recent days from people who have come across the scandal for the first time effing watch that itv docudrama, well aware now aliens of —— having watched that... -- having watched that... it was owerful -- having watched that... it was powerful you — -- having watched that... it was powerful you are _ -- having watched that... it was powerful you are right, - -- having watched that... it was powerfulyou are right, and i -- having watched that... it was powerful you are right, and we | -- having watched that... it was i powerfulyou are right, and we have powerful you are right, and we have any timeline on these proposals and what those proposals could be? ida. what those proposals could be? no, we don't. what those proposals could be? no, we don't- they _ what those proposals could be? my we don't. they are quite complex. 0ne we don't. they are quite complex. one thing kevin holland rick to talk about is the post office, as it is visual company, can bring about private criminal prosecutions, which is what they did, they stopped doing that actually sometime ago, but he the justice secretary will be looking at that. whether or not it is natural option for the government to strip that power away from the post office, they have not been doing it for quite a few year, the other thing talked about a lot in

parliament, the cbe for the former post office boss paula vennells — there is a petition, people have signed it, the prime minister saying he strong support of the honours forfeiture committee looking into that. that is quite an unusual intervention from the prime minister but that is an independent process for the committee to look at that. a political imperative to look into those concerns, to sort out some justice finally for all those individuals, and quite a few mps making the point, sadly, that quite a few of those victims have sadly passed away, so there will never be anyjustice for them. i3. passed away, so there will never be any justice for them.— any 'ustice for them. p, thank you so any justice for them. p, thank you so much. joining me now is former subpostmaster michael rudkin, one of post office scandal victims who lost hisjob and union position, and his wife susan rudkin was wrongly convicted of stealing money — a conviction that was later overturned. their plight was depicted in the itv drama. thank you so much forjoining us. we don't have long, but ijust want to

ask, how has this scandal affected you and your wife? it ask, how has this scandal affected you and your wife?— you and your wife? it has had an immense impact _ you and your wife? it has had an immense impact on _ you and your wife? it has had an immense impact on our- you and your wife? it has had an| immense impact on our everyday you and your wife? it has had an i immense impact on our everyday way of life. we have had to salvage what we did of the business assets we have, the business portfolio, which was worth at the time back in 2012 £1.2 million, now it is worth bricks and mortar. we are running a bed—and—breakfast to keep our head above water. find bed-and-breakfast to keep our head above water-— above water. and are you optimistic that more victims _ above water. and are you optimistic that more victims could _ above water. and are you optimistic that more victims could have - above water. and are you optimistic that more victims could have their l that more victims could have their convictions overturned, just like your wife did? i convictions overturned, 'ust like your wife did?i your wife did? i think it is shameful— your wife did? i think it is shameful that _ your wife did? i think it is shameful that in - your wife did? i think it is shameful that in this i your wife did? i think it is shameful that in this day| your wife did? i think it is i shameful that in this day and your wife did? i think it is - shameful that in this day and age your wife did? i think it is _ shameful that in this day and age we have gotjust under 100 people that have gotjust under 100 people that have had their convictions overturned out of 700 people. what is taking so long? and you watch the itv drama, you were part of the itv

drama. ., ., i. itv drama, you were part of the itv drama. ., ., ,., .,, drama. how do you feel it has taken this to net drama. how do you feel it has taken this to get it — drama. how do you feel it has taken this to get it to _ drama. how do you feel it has taken this to get it to the _ drama. how do you feel it has taken this to get it to the centre of- this to get it to the centre of government? i this to get it to the centre of government?— this to get it to the centre of government? i have to say, to some extent, i government? i have to say, to some extent. 1 am — government? i have to say, to some extent, i am absolutely _ government? i have to say, to some extent, i am absolutely shocked i government? i have to say, to some extent, i am absolutely shocked but| extent, i am absolutely shocked but pleasingly shocked, but when you look back and think, why has it taken 20 years, 2a years to get to this stage to have a tv programme rocked the whole of the uk into thinking of what the hell is going on in government that they can persecute a group of small business people providing services to the community?— people providing services to the communi 7�* ., _ , community? and obviously... sorry, obviously that _ community? and obviously... sorry, obviously that is _ community? and obviously... sorry, obviously that is the _ community? and obviously... sorry, obviously that is the convictions i obviously that is the convictions side of things, but in terms of compensation, where are you up to with that? have you received any compensation so far?— with that? have you received any compensation so far? you've got to remember there _ compensation so far? you've got to remember there was _ compensation so far? you've got to remember there was a _ compensation so far? you've got to remember there was a number- compensation so far? you've got to remember there was a number of. remember there was a number of schemes that are running. i was part of the group litigation order, where 555 took the post office to court.

so many other people have reported back to the probe connected from programmes, £58 million, a7 went, a7 million went to the lawyers. don't begrudge them that, because we were not of got to that point without that assistance, but for us to have a devey of £11 million between 555? as a mean average, £20,000 for 20 years of your life?— years of your life? michael, thank ou so years of your life? michael, thank you so much _ years of your life? michael, thank you so much for— years of your life? michael, thank you so much for sharing - years of your life? michael, thank you so much for sharing your- you so much for sharing your experience. it is much appreciated. 0f experience. it is much appreciated. of course, we have more on our bbc news website, live updates of the developments with the post office scandal. thank you for watching.

this is bbc news, the headlines. hezbollah has confirmed that one of its senior commanders has been killed by an israeli drone strike in lebanon. the un says it's 'very concerned' by the high journalist death

toll in gaza after two palestinian reporters were killed by an israeli air strike on sunday. the bbc uncovers evidence of rape, torture and forced abortions by the founder of one of the world's biggest christian evangelical churches. and the legendary german footballer and manager franz beckenbauer has died aged 78. a number of medical aid organisations have said they are pulling out from the last functioning hospital in central gaza. three international health organisations say they've been forced to cease their activities at the al aqsa hospital after the israeli military designated areas around facility a 'conflict zone.�* in a statement, the medical aid for palestinians and international rescue committee's emergency medical team says israel's military has dropped leaflets designating the areas surrounding the hospital as a "red zone", adding that given israel's history of attacks on medical staff and facilities in gaza, "the team is unable to return".