Mr Bates vs the Post Office: compensate us before we die

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Fujitsu’s Europe director Paul Patterson also apologised for what he said were “bugs and errors” in the firm’s system and for helping the Post Office prosecute subpostmasters. It came as: Mr Bates warned that it felt like a ‘financial gun’ had been held to the head of subpostmasters Another victim, Jo Hamilton, accused the Post Office of ‘gaslighting’ her Fujitsu admitted it had known of problems with the system as early as 2008 The Post Office admitted it still does not know where money paid by subpostmasters went Giving evidence to the Commons Business and Trade committee, Mr Bates said there was no reason why subpostmasters should not have had full financial redress by now. In an email presented as evidence to the inquiry, a Fujitsu executive said: “If we do not fix this problem our spreadsheets presented in court are liable to be brought into doubt.” In a 2008 email under the heading “benefits and risks”, another Fujitsu executive said: “If we cannot better identify where data integrity can or cannot be guaranteed then we are in breach of contract and may be fined heavily.” Campaigners called on Fujitsu to pay a considerable amount of money towards the final bill. Fujitsu has apologised to postmasters wrongfully convicted and admitted it had a moral duty to help with compensation Former Labour minister Kevan Jones said: “I welcome the news that Fujitsu are prepared to contribute to the scheme and I think negotiations need to start, but it is going to have to be a substantial amount.” Campaigning Tory peer Lord Arbuthnot said: “It needs to be a substantial proportion of the final overall costs, whatever they may turn out to be.” Those whose convictions are quashed are eligible for a £600,000 compensation payment, or potentially more.