Post Office Limited Horizon System

Alan Bates (JFSA) made this Freedom of Information request to Royal Mail Group Limited
This authority is not subject to FOI law, so is not legally obliged to respond (details).
This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was successful.

Alan Bates (JFSA)

Dear Royal Mail Group Limited,

The Horizon system is a name often quoted by Post Office Limited and Royal Mail for the computer system used by post offices.

Exactly what does the Horizon system name encompass as used in narratives by Post Office Limited.

For example, does it relate to just the software used or a specific software program? Does it include the hardware? Is it only the computer hardware within a post office or is it all the network equipment as well? Is the training or monitoring of the system also covered by the umbrella name of Horizon?

It should be clear now as to what I am requesting but if you require clarification please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Alan Bates

Royal Mail Group Limited

Dear Mr Bates,

Thank you for your request for information received on 4 May 2011, which we
are considering under the Freedom of Information Act. Under the Act you
should expect a reply from us to be sent by 2 June 2011, which is twenty
working days from receipt of your request.

If for any reason we are unable to provide you with a full response within
that time, we will contact you explaining the reasons for this and giving a
revised date by which we will reply.

If in the meantime you have any questions or would like to contact us about
your request, please contact us by telephone 01923 215110 or alternatively
email or write to us at the address below. Please be assured that we are
giving this our attention and will get back to you shortly.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Moore
[Royal Mail Group request email]
Freedom of Information Unit, Post Office Ltd
PO Box 2060, Watford, WD18 8ZW

Post Office Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered No. 2154540.
Registered Office 148 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HQ. Post Office and the
Post Office logo are registered trade marks of Post Office Ltd.


Alan Bates
<request-70142-eaaea56d@whatdoth To: FOI requests at Royal Mail Group <[Royal Mail Group request email]>
eyknow.com> cc:
Sent by: Alan Bates Subject: Freedom of Information request - Post Office Limited Horizon System
<request-70142-eaaea56d@whatdoth
eyknow.com>


04/05/2011 09:07

Dear Royal Mail Group Limited,

The Horizon system is a name often quoted by Post Office Limited
and Royal Mail for the computer system used by post offices.

Exactly what does the Horizon system name encompass as used in
narratives by Post Office Limited.

For example, does it relate to just the software used or a specific
software program? Does it include the hardware? Is it only the
computer hardware within a post office or is it all the network
equipment as well? Is the training or monitoring of the system also
covered by the umbrella name of Horizon?

It should be clear now as to what I am requesting but if you
require clarification please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Alan Bates

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Royal Mail Group Limited registered in England and Wales registered
number 4138203 registered office 3rd Floor, 100 Victoria Embankment,
London, EC4Y 0HQ

This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the
addressee only. If you are not the named recipient, you must not use,
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Royal Mail Group Limited

Dear Mr Bates

Ref: AJME-8GKCQB

I am writing in response to your email received by Post Office Limited on
04 May 2011, which I am dealing with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. (the Act)

In your email, you have requested;

The Horizon system is a name often quoted by Post Office Limited and Royal
Mail for the computer system used by post offices.

Exactly what does the Horizon system name encompass as used in narratives
by Post Office Limited? In particular you have asked;

Does it relate to just the software used or a specific software
program?
Does it include the hardware? Is it only the computer hardware
within a post office or is it all the network equipment as well?
Is the training or monitoring of the system also covered by the
umbrella name of Horizon?

In response to your request, I can advise you that the name Horizon relates
to the entire application. This encompasses the software, both bespoke and
software packages, the computer hardware and communications equipment
installed in branch and the central data centres. It includes the software
used to control and monitor the systems. In addition I can advise you that
testing and training systems are also referred to as Horizon.

I hope the information I have provided on this occasion is of use, if I can
be of further help or you have any queries about this response please
contact me via the email address [Royal Mail Group request email].

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of this response, you do have a
right to request an internal review. Internal review requests should be
submitted to:

Head of Information Compliance
Royal Mail Group
Company Secretary's Office
100 Victoria Embankment
LONDON
EC4Y 0HQ
[Royal Mail Group request email]

If, having requested an internal review by Royal Mail, you are still not
satisfied with our response you also have a right of appeal to the
Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Peter Johnson
Information Manager
PO BOX 2060
Watford Mail Centre
WATFORD
WD18 8ZW
01923 215110

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Royal Mail Group Limited registered in England and Wales registered number
4138203 registered office 3rd Floor, 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y
0HQ

This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the
addressee only. If you are not the named recipient, you must not use,
disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication.
If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then
delete this email from your system.
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