Speeches by Western.

“So they weren’t involved. It was just—”

“Who would it be in the Post Office, do you think?”

“I have a final question, which really goes back to one of the Chair’s first questions about billings. I guess this is a naive question based on my limited understanding of how law firms work, but you said that you had no idea what the billings would be related to this work for the coming year; how can you resource what…”

“So that is for this financial year. Mr Watts?”

“You estimate it, don’t you?”

“So those forecast figures might be given to DBT via Post Office or directly?”

“Minister, you rightly said that you want to speed up the process, which is clearly complex for many of the applicants, and that you are open to ideas. Would there be merit in having some sort of online calculator? I am thinking of pension credit and many other forms that the Government have introduced. It would simplif…”

“I welcome my right hon. Friend’s comments. The more I hear about this area, the more I think that this Government have inherited a wild west from the previous Government, so shocking is the situation in children’s social care. Will she agree to meet me to talk about a particular issue with a foster carer in my constitu…”

“Jill, thanks very much, and thank you all for being here. Can you talk through a little more about the experience that you have felt going through the HSS?”

“Finally, in terms of the duress and the anxiety, when was the first shortfall discovered and how many years later was the final one?”

“The other thing that your lawyers have said is that in disclosure provided by the Post Office, it laid blame on your mother for the shortfall losses. Can you tell us a little more about that?”

“I am so sorry about the loss of your mother 10 years ago yesterday. I am sure, or I can imagine, that the anxiety played a big part in her illness. Your lawyer told us that the Post Office had said that stress really did not play a part and that you could not demonstrate or prove that that had an effect. What was your …”

“You mentioned that you submitted back in October 2022 but did not get a response until August 2023, 10 months later. Why do you think it took so long?”

“Is the vast majority 90% or 95%?”

“Yes.”

“According to the financial redress data, I think DBT is still outstanding something like a couple of hundred claims. When do you expect them to be submitted?”

“Are you surprised that it is not a strong client?”

“It would be useful to see. Mr Enright and Mr Hartley, in your dealings with Addleshaw Goddard and Dentons, have you had any positive experience? If not, why not?”

“Have we seen that medical submission, the two-pager?”

“That is interesting. This is a question for both of you. Mr Hartley, I think you suggested that DBT should give sub-postmasters the benefit of the doubt at the evidence-gathering stage. Does this actually happen?”