Timetable published for final phase of Inquiry
The Inquiry has today published the hearing timetable for Phase 7, during which Sir Wyn Williams will examine current practice and procedure at the Post Office as well as compensation.
Over two months, Sir Wyn Williams will hear evidence from a range of witnesses including:
- Senior figures at the Post Office.
- Current and former ministers and civil servants.
- Governance expert witnesses.
- A representative from the independent research and data analytics firm, YouGov.
The final phase of the Inquiry (‘Phase 7’) will begin on 23 September with evidence from Gavin Ellison, Director of Public Sector and Not-For-Profit research at independent research and data analytics firm, YouGov.
Mr Ellison will share the findings of two surveys the Inquiry commissioned YouGov to conduct last month.
In these surveys, the Inquiry asked all current sub-postmasters and Horizon Shortfall Scheme applicants to share their experiences.
Speaking about these surveys, Sir Wyn Williams said: “We have looked long at the past, but now I'm coming up to date, so to speak, and I want to know about the present, both in terms of sub-postmasters' reactions to the present regime... and postmasters' reactions to the compensation scheme, HSS (Horizon Shortfall Scheme) in particular.”
Phase 7 will examine how the Post Office operates today. It will also investigate whether the Post Office has lived up to its commitment of “full and fair compensation.”
Hearings are due to end in mid-November, when the Inquiry will hear from governance expert witnesses, Dame Sandra Dawson and Dr Katy Steward.
Along with those scheduled to give oral evidence, the Inquiry will gather written witness statements from various people.
The Chair may also call additional witnesses to give oral evidence if guided by the evidence he receives. Any updates to the timetable will be published on the website.
On the 16 and 17 December, the Inquiry will hear closing statements.
This gives the legal representatives of key people involved (or ‘Core Participants to the Inquiry’) the opportunity to sum up their thoughts on the evidence we have heard throughout all phases of the Inquiry.
Before the oral closing statements, Core Participants will also have the opportunity to submit written closing statements of up to 100 pages in length.
Register for public gallery attendance
If you wish to register your interest for a place in the public gallery during these hearings, please complete the form below by 10am 16 September.
Register for public gallery attendance
The hearings will also be streamed, via the Inquiry’s YouTube channel, on a three-minute delay.
