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Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill

The Bill overturns convictions relating to the period when the Post Office was using the Horizon IT system.

This is a Government bill

The Bill became an Act on 13 June 2024

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

The Bill relates to offences of dishonesty that were prosecuted in Horizon-related cases. Any convictions for such offences will be overturned on the day that the Bill comes into force.

Scottish Ministers must take reasonable steps to identify the convictions which will be overturned. Ministers will be given the power to request information from relevant bodies to do this.

Scottish Ministers will also need to take steps to notify anyone whose conviction has been overturned. Where a person has died, their personal representatives should be notified.

Scottish Ministers will also have powers to tell Police Scotland to delete records of any alternative to prosecution given for a Horizon-related crime.

Why the Bill was created

In March, the UK Government introduced the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill to overturn convictions for Horizon-related offences. The Scottish Government is introducing this Bill to cover offences prosecuted in Scotland.

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (170KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Policy Memorandum (227KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Financial Memorandum (235KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Delegated Powers Memorandum (106KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Statements on legislative competence (110KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Accompanying Documents (print versions)

Explanatory Notes (217KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Policy Memorandum (286KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Financial Memorandum (219KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Delegated Powers Memorandum (213KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Statements on legislative competence (162KB, pdf) posted 14 May 2024

Financial Resolution

The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

Research Briefing on the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill

The Bill was introduced on 14 May 2024

Stage 1: general principles

Emergency Bill

The Parliament agreed that the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill should be treated as an Emergency Bill at the meeting of the Parliament on 15 May 2024.

Read the Official Report

Read the minutes of proceedings (187KB, pdf) posted 15 May 2024

At Stage 1, an Emergency Bill shall be referred immediately to the Parliament for consideration of its general principles.

Correspondence

Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 20 May 2024

Post Office Horizon Cases

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to Kevin Hollinrake MP, Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business. 18 April 2024

Update on Legislation to Reverse the Convictions of Wrongly Convicted Sub-Postmasters

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to the Convener, 7 March 2024

Stage 1 Debate and decision

A Stage 1 debate took place on 21 May 2024 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.

  • Motion title: Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill.    
  • Submitted by: Angela Constance
  • Date lodged: Monday, 20 May 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-13292
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 21 May 2024

See further details of the motion


Parliament agreed the general principles of the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 1 on 21 May 2024

Stage 2: changes to the Bill

At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them. 

Emergency Bill

At Stage 2, and Emergency Bill shall be taken by a Committee of the Whole Parliament.

Committee of the Whole Parliament

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 23 May 2024:

Marshalled List of amendments for Stage 2 (296KB, pdf) posted 22 May 2024

Groupings of amendments for Stage 2 (326KB, pdf) posted 22 May 2024

The Bill ended Stage 2 on 23 May 2024

Stage 3: final changes and vote

At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them.  There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law. 

Research on the Bill

Read additional research done by the Scottish Parliament on specific parts of the Bill.

Research Briefing on the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill prior to Stage 3

Debate on proposed amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting held on 30 May 2024:

Marshalled List of amendments for Stage 3 (234KB, pdf) posted 29 May 2024

Groupings of amendments for Stage 3 (258KB, pdf) posted 29 May 2024

Final debate on the Bill

Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
  • Motion title: Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees that the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill be passed.
  • Submitted by: Angela Constance
  • Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-13407
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, 30 May 2024

Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed

See further details of the motion


Parliament decided to pass the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 3 on 30 May 2024

Bill becomes an Act

The Bill was passed on 30 May 2024 and became an Act on 13 June 2024.

Read the Act

Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Scotland Act 2024