Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Offord of Garvel on 14 February (HL2130), whether the Government were informed of any action by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman resulting from the sub-postmaster's complaint.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) reports to Parliament directly and is held to account through the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Therefore, the Department for Business and Trade is unable to respond on their behalf.
The Ombudsman’s officials have indicated to my Department that they will take no further action on the complaint, at least until the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and the GLO compensation scheme have run their course.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Offord of Garvel on 30 January (HL1629) which noted that the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman does not have “any live investigations relating to the Post Office Horizon scandal”, whether any sub-postmaster contacted the Ombudsman in relation to this matter at any time since its inception.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) reports to Parliament directly and is held to account through the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Therefore, the Department for Business and Trade is unable to respond on their behalf.
PHSO has confirmed that they were contacted regarding a complaint from a sub-postmaster in relation to the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what part, if any, the Ombudsman has played in the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) reports to Parliament directly and is held to account through the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Therefore, the Department for Business and Trade is unable to respond on their behalf.
PHSO has confirmed that they do not have any live investigations relating to the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Asked by: Lord Framlingham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote awareness of the value of post offices.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Government is clear that the Post Office should be a valuable social and economic asset for communities and businesses for years to come. The Post Office delivers essential services that are hugely valuable, to both individuals and SME businesses, across the UK. The Minister for Postal Affairs continues to champion the Post Office across Government and to external stakeholders where appropriate, however, Post Office Limited is a commercial business and it is right for the company to lead on promoting post offices and raising awareness of the value they deliver.