The authorities has introduced a brand new mounted sum fee for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal in an effort to offer faster compensation.

An award of £600,000 is on provide to the postmasters who’ve had their convictions over turned after defective Horizon software program made it seem they have been stealing, as cash appeared to be lacking.

Anyone who has confirmed they have been falsely imprisoned as a part of the scandal can take the fee, as a substitute of going via the total evaluation of their loss. The solely requirement is for the sufferer to show they’d their conviction overturned.

An inquiry into the scandal started final 12 months and affected postmasters have been to use for compensation.

But that course of “can take time because these things are complicated”, enterprise minister Kevin Hollinrake stated within the Commons on Monday.

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Mr Hollinrake added that is “a much quicker way to compensation”.

“If you think your claim is worth more than £600,000 then you can still go through the normal route.

“The benefit of it is because some folks will inevitably take this route, it should take extra folks out of the queue so the total evaluation will take much less time as nicely. It’s a extremely win-win on each stage for individuals who have suffered.”

Accepting the provide will keep away from “months” of assessments and fascinating attorneys, Mr Hollinrake stated. Instead, it will likely be “a quick and easy process”.

How lengthy the provide is open for has but to be labored out by authorities.

Mr Hollinrake was requested, by Sarah Jones shadow minister for trade and decarbonisation, if compensation can be greater if victims undergo the total scheme.

No sum can be sufficient for what the prosecuted workers went via, Mr Hollinrake stated. “If you’ve suffered, if you’ve spent time in jail, if you lost your house, if your marriage has failed, all those things – if those things have happened to you, no amount of money will ever be enough.”

Many postmasters are but to hunt an overturning of their conviction. More than 700 postmasters, who managed put up workplaces, have been wrongly prosecuted and is likely one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in UK historical past. Just 86 postmasters have had their conviction overturned, although extra are being inspired to come back ahead.

An interim report from the chair of the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry, Sir Wyn Williams, in July set out suggestions on the three schemes established by the Post Office and the federal government to compensate postmasters.

At the identical time Sir Wyn stated the time interval for making funds to postmasters who sued the Post Office – August subsequent 12 months – will “not be achieved” as 550 claims must be heard inside 20 months.