24 February 2022
Dunne backs calls for full compensation in Post Office Horizon software scandal

Philip Dunne MP calls for a proper compensation scheme for all who lost out or were wrongly jailed in the Post Office Horizon software scandal and for Fujitsu to be held to account.

Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con)

My constituent Rubbina Shaheen lost her livelihood and her home. She was wrongfully convicted of stealing £40,000 from the Post Office and served 12 months in jail in 2000. She is one of the fortunate ones who have received some compensation, but it has all gone to the lawyers she had to engage to protect her name. I back the calls across the House for a proper compensation scheme to reflect the damage that has been inflicted by a faulty computer programme. I endorse the comments of colleagues: why has Fujitsu not been held to account for the damage that it has caused to so many people?

Paul Scully (Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets)

My heartfelt thoughts go out to Rubbina Shaheen and her family. That is exactly why those who were convicted had the £100,000 interim compensation: to ensure that they could go a little way towards restoring some of their losses and that, if they needed legal representation, they had those costs paid for. We are working at pace trying to achieve full compensation.

Hansard