Debates between Caroline Nokes and Steve Darling during the 2024 Parliament

Post Office Redress and Funding

Debate between Caroline Nokes and Steve Darling
Wednesday 18th December 2024

(4 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Caroline Nokes Portrait Madam Deputy Speaker
- Hansard - -

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Steve Darling Portrait Steve Darling (Torbay) (LD)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I thank the Minister for sharing his statement in advance.

Honest, hard-working people had their lives totally wrecked by this scandal, and it is a great shame that it happened over a number of years, and that there was dither and delay over it for far too many years. I welcome the steps that he has outlined this afternoon. I welcome the suggestions made to him about an independent body for compensation. However, this scandal must never happen again. One way this Chamber could ensure that is the case is by having a duty of candour on officials, as the Liberal Democrats have called for. I hope he will give that serious consideration, to stop such a scandal ever happening again. Finally, there is a real opportunity, should the Government choose to take it, to set up an office for whistleblowers through the Employment Rights Bill, which is currently making its way through the House.