Inquiry names senior individuals to give evidence in Phases 5 and 6
Chair also confirms that phases are due to start w/c 9 April 2024
In a statement today, Sir Wyn Williams outlined the timings for Phases 5 and 6, which are examining issues including governance, redress and how the Post Office and others have responded to the scandal. He said that these phases must begin in the week commencing 9 April, and will be run together as one phase.
The Inquiry has also published a list of witnesses expected to give evidence in these phases.
Phases 5 and 6 witnesses will include Post Office and Royal Mail Group board members; Post Office senior management; Post Office in-house and external lawyers; Fujitsu employees and senior executives; politicians and senior civil servants; campaigners; and independent reviewers.
In the statement today, Sir Wyn also noted that there remains to be heard a small number of Phase 4 witnesses, including former Fujitsu engineer Gareth Jenkins. It is expected that these witnesses will be heard during the future phases.
The updates come as the Inquiry today heard Phase 4 closing statements from Core Participants, including those representing sub-postmasters and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.
In his update today, the Chair also said that it may be necessary to hold a further hearing dedicated to compensation, but that he will now consider the topic of compensation in Phase 7 in order to look at “as full a picture as possible relating to compensation issues” before he reports to the Minister. Sir Wyn added that he aims to “reach conclusions about whether these schemes have operated fairly and whether they have fulfilled their stated aim of providing full and fair compensation promptly to all those who are eligible to receive it.”
The Chair previously brought forward his investigation of compensation matters by convening four discrete hearings on compensation between July 2022 and April 2023. He also laid an interim report before Parliament last summer, which called on the Government to resolve compensation issues for sub-postmasters.
A timetable for the witnesses to be heard in Phases 5 and 6 will be published on the Inquiry website in due course.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- This Inquiry will hear evidence from the following witnesses in Phase 5 and 6: view witness list.
- A transcript of Sir Wyn's statement is available on our website.
- For updates on the witness schedule, please see our website and follow the Inquiry on Twitter @PostOffInquiry.
- Sir Wyn also recently announced the appointment of Dame Sandra Dawson and Dr Katy Steward as Governance Expert Witnesses who will support Phase 5 and 6 of the Inquiry's hearings by addressing issues relating to leadership, management and governance. Read more here: https://www.postofficehorizoninquiry.org.uk/news/horizon-it-inquiry-jointly-appoints-dame-sandra-dawson-and-dr-katy-steward-governance-expert
