Post Office Horizon cases: letters to UK Government

Post Office Horizon letter: 20 March 2024

To: Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business
From: Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs

I am writing to request an urgent meeting to discuss the Post Office (Horizon System) Offence Bill, introduced on 13 March 2024.

On 14 March 2024 the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Shona Robison wrote to Michael Gove MP. This letter followed remarks Mr Gove had made at the Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee on 12 March 2024 regarding the route still being open to extending the Bill to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ms Robison urged Mr Gove to make good on his commitment and ensure that the Bill was extended to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Given that matters are proceeding at pace, a response to that letter was requested before the second reading of the Bill which is taking place  today. No response to this letter has as yet been received. 

To date you and I have had only one short discussion on the day the Bill was announced, and despite your undertaking to keep in touch I am yet to receive a reply to my letter of 23 February 2024. This lack of Ministerial contact is concerning, especially given that time is clearly of the essence, and in light of your government’s repeated assurances that you will work with the devolved administrations to ensure compatibility and equitability of treatment across the UK.

It is also concerning as I know that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland are equally concerned and disappointed in the decision the UK Government has taken and I understand that you recently met with representatives from the Northern Ireland Executive to discuss this Bill, but that same courtesy has not been extended to the Scottish Government. 

A copy of this letter goes to the Secretary of State for Intergovernmental Relations, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive.