An announcement of the Government’s plan to help the victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal is “imminent”, the postal services minister said this morning.
Kevin Hollinrake said the Government believed it now has the “solution” but he could not be specific on when it will be unveiled, beyond saying it is likely to be this week.
There is speculation that Rishi Sunak could make an announcement at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions at noon today.
Mr Hollinrake told Sky News: “An announcement is imminent. We believe we have a solution. But I said at the despatch box this week it would be this week, we felt, and I think it will be this week. But I can’t promise you any particular timescale.”
It comes after Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, told MPs yesterday that the Government was actively considering introducing a new law to quash the convictions of subpostmasters caught up in the scandal.
Between 1999 and 2015, more than 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted after faulty accounting software made it look like money was missing from their sites. Fewer than 100 convictions have been overturned to date.
You can follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section here.