Future of the Post Office Network: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2019

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

john o'sullivan

Dear Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,This document states " While the Government believes the NFSP effectively challenges Post Office Ltd where necessary, we also recognise the need for the relationship between POL and Postmasters to improve so that both can prosper."The document is dated 25th October 2019.On Dec 16th 2019 Justice Fraser found thus " "The NFSP is not an organisation independent of the Post Office, in the sense that the word “independent” is usually understood in the English language. It is not only dependent upon the Post Office for its funding, but that funding is subject to stringent and detailed conditions that enable the Post Office to restrict the activities of the NFSP. The Post Office effectively controls the NFSP." Do you agree with JF's later findings and modify your earlier beliefs,if not what evidence have you to show JF was wrong in his findings?

Yours faithfully,

john o'sullivan

FOI Requests, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

BEIS ref: FOI2022/15498

Dear Mr O'Sullivan

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 29th
June. Your request has been passed on to the appropriate official at the
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to process.

Your request is being considered under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and
we will reply at the latest by 27th July.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact the Information
Rights & Records Unit at BEIS. Please remember to quote the reference
number above in any future communications.

Kind regards,

Information Rights & Records Unit

Information Rights & Records Unit | Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy | 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET |
www.gov.uk/beis | [email address] |

FOI Requests, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

1 Attachment

Dear John O'Sullivan,

Please find attached our response to your information request, our reference FOI2022/15498.

If you have any queries about this email, please contact the Information Rights & Records Unit at BEIS.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communication.

Yours sincerely,

Information Rights & Records Unit

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Upper Ground
1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
www.gov.uk/beis

show quoted sections

john o'sullivan

Dear FOI Requests,Thank you for a reply.Are you saying that you dont hold or cant find a document that allowed you to believe that the NFSP challenges Post Office Ltd?Do you not have a position on Justice Fraser's findings?As a Department who is correct,yourselves or JF?

Yours sincerely,

john o'sullivan

BEIS Correspondence, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

1 Attachment

  • Attachment

    TOB2022 17790 John O Sullivan Post Office.rtf

    2.5M Download

Dear Mr O'Sullivan,

Please find attached our response to your recent enquiry.

Kind Regards,

BEIS CORRESPONDENCE UNIT

Dear BEIS Correspondence,Thank you for a reply.You seem to be saying at the same time you agree with Justice Fraser's findings about the NFSP but that it is still O.K.Have you ever asked any SPM if they are happy with the NFSP.You appear to base your opinion on the NFSP solely on your Dept. dealings with them,can you give any examples of these challenges and the outcomes thereof?It is simply not enough for the NFSP to challenge the Post Office,the challenge must be meaningful rather than a show of discord to keep onlookers happy to believe representation is taking place.Justice Fraser was not fooled for a moment,you seem to be giving POL and the NFSP a great deal of undeserved trust.Just on one matter the meetings of the Working Group Callum was very evasive about how often it meets(certainly not quarterly as a Select Committee was told)and told me my "information was "incomplete"when I suggested it hadnt met for more than a year.Who of BEIS,POL and the NFSP is tasked with sharing with Spm what is discussed at Working Group meetings?(treat that as a new request if need be)In April 2020 you felt it unlikely anyone would be held to account for the Horizon Scandal as it all happened a long time ago-that may prove to be a wrong position to take.Can you not see that you must alter your Departments stance on SPM representation,ideally before Sir Wyn demands it?Sub Postmaster pay for the year ending 2022 was less than in 2013 without an inflation adjustment.Just like Horizon POL are using lack of scrutiny and a poodle representation body to punish SPM and you are allowing it!

Yours sincerely,

john o'sullivan