Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill (Instructions) — 29 Apr 2024 at 18:57

That it be an Instruction to the Committee on the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill that it has power to make provision in the Bill for it to extend to Northern Ireland.-(Robert Largan.)

That it be an Instruction to the Committee on the Bill that it have leave to make provision relating to Scotland.

“We recognise that this is an exceptional step, but these are exceptional circumstances.”-[Official Report, 10 January 2024; Vol. 743, c. 302.]

“It is important to recognise that, in Scotland, there is an established route of appeal in circumstances such as this…and that due process must be followed.”-[Scottish Parliament Official Report, 16 January 2024; c. 14.]

“to make sure that people who have genuinely committed a crime…do not then have access to…compensation.”

“It is important to recognise that in Scotland, there is an established route of appeal in circumstances such as this…and that due process must be followed.”-[Scottish Parliament Official Report, 16 January 2024; c. 14.]

“The vast majority of the cases that may be affected by the issue were cases in which the accused pled guilty to the offence. Often, those pleas were tendered under legal representation. Although it is impossible to comment on every case, prosecutors do not mark cases to proceed in the absence of corroboration-they simply do not do that. Defence solicitors do not advise clients to plead guilty in the absence of corroboration. In cases that proceed to trial, the sheriffs do not convict in the absence of corroboration. As a result, it is reasonable to infer that, in cases that resulted in a conviction-whether by guilty plea or conviction after trial-other evidence was available that was capable of supporting the finding of guilt…As I have explained, not every Horizon case will involve a miscarriage of justice. In some cases, there was sufficient evidence to support a criminal conviction.”-[Scottish Parliament Official Report, 16 January 2024; c. 22-27]

“We remain crystal clear that the best way to achieve parity for the sub-postmasters across the UK who were convicted on the basis of tainted evidence from the Post Office Horizon system is for the UK Government’s Bill to be extended to Scotland, as it has been for Northern Ireland, just as we have been clear if this isn’t the case we will bring forward a Scottish bill that mirrors the UK bill as quickly as possible.”

Debate in Parliament |