Over 2,000 new Post Office scandal compensation claims - minister - Voice of Asia

A UK government minister has stated that over 2,000 new compensation claims have been submitted in the past month from individuals who believe they were also victims of the Post Office scandal. These new claims have emerged after the Post Office contacted former sub-postmasters who may have been affected but had not yet applied for compensation.

Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas, speaking on BBC Newsnight, said that many of the original 4,000+ claimants are still waiting for compensation, including 92-year-old Betty Brown. Ms. Brown told the BBC that the government needs to "sort this out as soon as possible."

Ms. Brown stated on the program on Monday that she has received less than a third of the compensation she is claiming. “We’ve waited too long. Time is running out and we’re getting older,” she said, “Sort it out as soon as possible.” She added that she wants a "fair and just hearing." Ms. Brown and her husband spent over £50,000 of their savings to cover shortfalls at their Durham branch caused by the faulty Horizon software.

Mr. Thomas said he was "eager to find solutions" and will be meeting with Ms. Brown and another former sub-postmaster, Shazia Saddiq. Ms. Saddiq, speaking on Newsnight, said she had only received 10% of her claim. Ms. Saddiq ran three Post Offices in Newcastle but "lost everything" and had to move from the area she lived in after being attacked in the street. These former sub-postmasters spoke to Newsnight a year after an ITV drama exposed the scandal.

Earlier this month, the parliamentary Business and Trade Select Committee called for changes to the way compensation payments are made due to ongoing delays. Mr. Thomas said he was "glad to say" that more victims are coming forward and that the government is looking at ways to speed up compensation. He also stated that the amount of compensation paid out has doubled in the past six months and that the government is working to make the compensation scheme "less legalistic and less adversarial." Claimants can opt for a fixed payment of £75,000 and avoid a lengthy assessment process, which should help process claims more quickly.