Horizon IT System: Compensation
(asked on 6th November 2024) - View Source
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what the cost is of legal fees related to Post Office IT Horizon redress paid to external law firms by (a) scheme and (b) firm.
Answered by
Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade delivers the Group Litigation Order (GLO) scheme and the recently-launched Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS).
Since the launch of the GLO scheme in March 2023, a total of c.£2.9 million has been spent on legal advice to the Department on settling the redress claims of postmasters in the GLO scheme. A further c.£12.5 million has been spent on support for victims’ legal fees.
Since the launch of the HCRS scheme in July 2024, a total of c.£100k has been spent on legal services to the Department in the setting up of the HCRS scheme. Approximately c.£360k has been spent on victims’ legal fees.
A detailed breakdown of legal fees paid by law firm and scheme is provided below:
Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS)
Victims’ legal costs £000 | |
Hudgell Solicitors | £360 |
Sub-total: Victims’ legal costs | £360 |
The Department’s legal costs £000 | |
Addleshaw Goddard LLP | £45 |
Dentons UK & Middle East LLP | £55 |
Sub-total: The Department’s legal costs | £100 |
Total legal fees under HCRS £000 | £460 |
Group Litigation Order Scheme (GLO)
Victims’ legal costs £000 | |
Freeths LLP | £10,888 |
Howe and Co Solicitors | £1,545 |
Other: under £30k per supplier | £52 |
Sub-total: Victims’ legal costs | £12,485 |
The Department’s legal costs £000 | |
Addleshaw Goddard LLP | £1,675 |
Dentons UK and Middle East LLP | £1,060 |
Secondees contracted to Government Legal Department | £121 |
Sub-total: The Department’s legal costs | £2,925 |
Total legal fees under GLO £000 | £15,410 |
The figures above exclude recoverable VAT. Figures from April 2023 are subject to audit and may change.
On the Overturned Convictions (OC) & Historical Shortfalls (HSS) schemes, this is a matter for the Post Office. I have asked them to write to my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, and a copy of their correspondence will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.