Government is using Post Office as ‘shield’ over Horizon compensation schemes, outgoing chief executive Nick Read explains | UK news

The Post Office’s outgoing chief executive today accepted the government is using the company as a “shield” against compensation schemes, as he gave evidence to the inquiry.

Nick Read, who resigned last monthwas giving evidence at the Post Office’s Horizon IT inquiry for a second day, focusing on delays in financial redress for victims.

Edward Henry KC, for aggrieved deputy postmasters caught the Horizon scandalasked Mr. Read if the government is “using the Post Office as a shield or fire curtain”.

He replied, “That might be a description, yes.”

Mr Henry continued: “The fact that you (the Post Office) run two of the three schemes gives the government a degree of protection… does a step removed give it room for plausible deniability?”

Mr. Read replied, “That is true.”

Hundreds of deputy postmasters were wrongfully convicted over the flawed Horizon computer software used by the post office between 1999 and 2015.

The outgoing Post Office boss denied that the company had been instructed “to minimize or suppress compensation claims and avoid public scrutiny”.

Read has admitted, however, that the compensation process has been “excessively bureaucratic” and has expressed “deep regret” that Correus has not been up to the task of offering “quick and fair reparation”.

However, he insisted that the “approach” and way of “engaging” with victims has changed in recent months, with “lessons learned” since the start of the year.

“I think we’re really open and moving towards a better system,” Read told the inquiry. “There are proper appeals processes, proper independent panels are now working.”

He added that there is a “commitment … to get it right” and said he believes “things will start to flow” despite “definitely mistakes being made”.

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Read also addressed the “appalling” fact that hundreds of deputy postmasters have died before receiving compensation.

A total of 251 people have died without receiving full financial compensation, according to data cited in the investigation.

Nick Read insisted he had spent “a lot of time” “trying to figure out how to improve and speed up the process”, adding that it was a “constant talking point” with the government.

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Read said it was “surprising” that the Post Office was involved in the administration of the compensation plans and said the “corporate view” was that the Post Office should have nothing to do with it.

Asked why this view was not communicated to the inquiry at the meetings, Mr Read replied: “That’s a good question. I’m not sure why we didn’t make it very explicit… of course we we should have done.”

He said the lack of communication about it was a “failure”.

Read also told the inquiry today how Post Office employees were “involved” in the Horizon scandal may “still be operating at the heart” of the business.

The query continues.