Latest news with #DepartmentforBusinessandTrade
ITV News
a day ago
- Business
- ITV News
New compensation scheme announced for Post Office Capture victims
Horizon scandal Politics Postmasters who suffered financial shortfalls in the 1990s due to errors of the faulty Capture IT system that preceded the Horizon scandal will be entitled to payouts from a new redress scheme. Capture, which was a precursor to Horizon developed in-house by the Post Office, led to a number of sub-postmasters being accused of 'accounting malpractice', with some having their contracts terminated. Some resigned, while others were prosecuted or had to pay money back. In a move to "right the wrongs of the past", the Department for Business and Trade has announced a new compensation scheme for those affected by the faults of Capture between 1992 and 2000. It follows the government's acceptance of findings from an independent investigation by Kroll Associates, which concluded there was a reasonable likelihood that Capture created financial shortfalls for postmasters. Kroll found that 13.5% of all branches may have used Capture, and that sub-postmasters felt pressured by network and area managers to use the system. Its report also found that legal teams had not been investigating potential "bugs or errors" in the system. At least 40 former sub-postmasters claimed they were wrongly accused of theft due to errors in the Capture system, ITV News reported last year. "Today's announcement represents another important step in righting the wrongs of the past and rebuilding trust in the Post Office," said Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas. The scheme is expected to open for applications in Autumn 2025, with an initial phased rollout for 150 claimants to ensure the process is fair, proportionate and accessible before wider implementation. It comes as the government confirmed that £1 billion has been paid out in compensation to over 7,300 postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal, and the opening of the Horizon Shortfalls Scheme Appeal process in May. The Capture Redress Scheme has been designed to address cases dating back over two decades, where documentation that can be used as evidence may be limited. It will include a " straightforward two-stage process", according to the government, comprising of an initial eligibility review followed by an independent panel assessment. A "holistic" approach to assessments will be taken, considering both financial losses and the wider personal impact on postmasters. The government says the scheme will also include prompt preliminary payments for eligible claimants, ensuring early acknowledgement of loss, and a guided scoring and banding model for "consistency in awards, while maintaining flexibility". Hudgell Solicitors says it is acting on behalf of more than 100 former sub-postmasters prosecuted, sacked or made to pay back alleged branch shortfalls when using the Capture accounting system. Of those cases, more than 30 are being led by relatives of former sub-postmasters who have since died, the firm said in February. They include Mark Lloyd-Holt and his mother, Agnes, who are pursuing justice on behalf of Agnes' late husband Peter, who died in 2021, aged 75, without ever having the opportunity to clear his name. He was sacked from his role as sub-postmaster of his Bolton Post Office in 1994 after accounts at his branch showed unexplained shortfalls, with his family saying the impact of all that happened "destroyed" him and left him a "shell of himself". Following a meeting with the government in February to discuss the second Post Office IT scandal, Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: "We will get redress and justice for those whose lives were affected by Capture. "There are potentially hundreds affected, and sadly a large number are likely to be people who are no longer with us, and died without ever being able to clear their name. "Our message is that people shouldn't be put off by having a lack of documentation. "If they know or suspect that they, or family members were affected by accounting issues between 1992 and 1999 which may have been due to Capture, they should come forward. "That certainly includes family members acting on behalf of loved ones who have since passed away." Who can apply to the Capture compensation scheme? Postmasters are eligible to apply if they:
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer shares real reason he picked Donald Trump's papers up off the floor
After Donald Trump dropped the UK/US trade deal on the flooor at the G7 summit, the Prime Minister suggested that if anyone else had tried to pick them up it would not have ended well. Keir Starmer has claimed he acted quickly to pick up papers dropped by Donald Trump due to a "tightly guarded security zone" around the President. The Prime Minister suggested the outcome would not have been great for any helpful reporter who may have intervened to give Mr Trump a hand. "I mean seriously I think if any of you had stepped forward other than me," Mr Starmer said. "I was just deeply conscious that in a situation like it would not have been good for anybody else to have stepped forward." It came after the US President and the Prime Minister signed off a UK-US trade deal to mitigate the impacts of the White House's global tariffs. Mr Trump declared "we signed, and it's done" - after accidently dropping the papers on the floor in front of assembled reporters. "It's a little windy out here," he added. The mishap prompted Mr Starmer to kneel down and pick up the copy of the trade agreement. Moments later the US President then appeared to mistake the UK for the European Union. Pressed on whether people should be concerned about Trump's health, the PM said: "No, I mean, look, there weren't many choices with the documents and picking it up, because one - as you probably know there were quite strict rules about who can get close to the president." He added: "He was in good form yesterday, and I mean we had - I don't know how many sessions yesterday together as the G7 and then into the evening session as well. "And I'm just really pleased that we signed the executive order and for JLR's 44,000 people, that is a huge relief in terms of the protection of their jobs and their livelihoods, and that's really important to me." President Trump imposed a raft of tariffs on trade in April on what he branded "Liberation Day". It included 10% levies on all British goods, and 25% on cars, steel and aluminium. He later increased the tariff on steel to 50%, but the UK was handed a reprieve, keeping its 25% rate until at least July 9. The UK-US deal, which was announced in May, promised to see tariffs on steel and car exports to the US slashed in exchange for greater access to the UK for beef and ethanol producers. But the agreement - expected to save thousands of British manufacturing jobs - had not been implemented amid delays from Washington. Yesterday's executive order signed by Mr Trump will bring many of the commitments into force. But US tariffs for the steel industry remain at 25%, with no certainty on whether they will be eliminated next month or double to 50% in line with other countries. The two leaders pledged to "make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products as agreed", the Department for Business and Trade said. Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Starmer said: "In relation to British Steel obviously it's referred to in the executive order so we're moving on to the implementation stage. "There's further work to do in relation to steel, but we're getting on and doing that work, and that doesn't require us to change the ownership of British Steel. "But as we were with cars and with aerospace, we're in the implementation stage now, and it's included in the executive order, which is, I mean, so the executive order mirrors what we agreed, what I agree with the President when I was over in Washington. "So that's the significance. But now it's in the executive order form, which obviously moves along on the implementation stage."
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Work to get US steel tariffs removed to go on in coming ‘days, weeks and months'
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed off a US-UK deal that will slash trade barriers on goods from both countries at the G7 on Monday. But US tariffs for the steel industry will stand at 25% for now rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. This is less than the US global rate of 50% for steel and aluminium. The two leaders pledged to 'make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products as agreed', the Department for Business and Trade said. The Chinese ownership of the British Steel could be a sticking point in the deal on steel as the executive order signed by Mr Trump suggests the US wants assurances that the metal originates in the UK. 'The United Kingdom also committed to working to meet American requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminium products intended for export to the United States and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities,' the order states. After signing it, the US President was asked whether steel tariffs would be eliminated, to which he replied: 'We're gonna let you have that information in a little while.' In April, the UK Government used emergency powers to take control of British Steel and continue production at the site after Chinese owners Jingye proposed shutting the Scunthorpe site's two blast furnaces and other key steelmaking operations. But its future is still uncertain, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander saying the Government is eager for it to be 'part of a commercially-operated business with private investment'. 'We're talking to a number of third parties about that. At the moment, no options are off the table,' she told Sky News. She said there was still 'more work to do' to get steel tariffs eliminated, including on 'technical detail'. 'We're working through some technical detail around steel because we want to bring that 25% tariff that applies at the moment obviously down further,' she told BBC Breakfast. She said the UK is 'working on getting that implemented'. 'And we're determined to go further and we'll be working on those issues around steel in the coming days, weeks and months,' she added. Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general secretary of the Community union, said it was 'absolutely vital' to secure a deal on steel as quickly as possible. 'Our steel producers and their US customers need an end to the current state of uncertainty to allow normal business to resume. 'Crucially, we must see a full exemption for all UK steel exports to the US – without that guarantee some of our leading steel businesses could be left behind, with a threat to jobs and livelihoods.' It comes as a £500 million five-year deal has been struck between Network Rail and British Steel, which Ms Alexander said was a 'vote of confidence'. British Steel is to supply 337,000 tonnes of rail track, with a further 80-90,000 tonnes to be provided by other European manufacturers. The Network Rail contract will start on July 1 and is set to provide the company with 80% of its rail needs. Jingye, which bought British Steel in 2020, launched a consultation in March which it said would affect between 2,000 and 2,700 jobs, despite months of negotiations and a £500 million co-investment offer from the Government. The Scunthorpe plant has been producing steel for Britain's railways since 1865. The Network Rail agreement is the first major public procurement since the Government's emergency legislation was passed. Network Rail's group director for railway business services Clive Berrington said: 'We are committed to buying British where it makes economic sense to do so and British Steel remain extremely competitive in the provision of rail and will remain our main supplier in the years ahead.' Craig Harvey, British Steel's commercial director for rail, added: 'The contract represents a huge vote of confidence in UK workers and British industry, underpinning the vital role we play in ensuring millions of passengers and freight operators enjoy safe, enjoyable and timely journeys on Britain's railways.' Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, national officer at the GMB union, said it was a 'crucial first step in securing the future of our steel industry' and urged ministers to make sure British Steel has a 'constant flow of orders' from other infrastructure projects.
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Work to get US steel tariffs removed to go on in coming ‘days, weeks and months'
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed off a US-UK deal that will slash trade barriers on goods from both countries at the G7 on Monday. But US tariffs for the steel industry will stand at 25% for now rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. This is less than the US global rate of 50% for steel and aluminium. The two leaders pledged to 'make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products as agreed', the Department for Business and Trade said. The Chinese ownership of the British Steel could be a sticking point in the deal on steel as the executive order signed by Mr Trump suggests the US wants assurances that the metal originates in the UK. 'The United Kingdom also committed to working to meet American requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminium products intended for export to the United States and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities,' the order states. After signing it, the US President was asked whether steel tariffs would be eliminated, to which he replied: 'We're gonna let you have that information in a little while.' In April, the UK Government used emergency powers to take control of British Steel and continue production at the site after Chinese owners Jingye proposed shutting the Scunthorpe site's two blast furnaces and other key steelmaking operations. But its future is still uncertain, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander saying the Government is eager for it to be 'part of a commercially-operated business with private investment'. 'We're talking to a number of third parties about that. At the moment, no options are off the table,' she told Sky News. She said there was still 'more work to do' to get steel tariffs eliminated, including on 'technical detail'. 'We're working through some technical detail around steel because we want to bring that 25% tariff that applies at the moment obviously down further,' she told BBC Breakfast. She said the UK is 'working on getting that implemented'. 'And we're determined to go further and we'll be working on those issues around steel in the coming days, weeks and months,' she added. Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general secretary of the Community union, said it was 'absolutely vital' to secure a deal on steel as quickly as possible. 'Our steel producers and their US customers need an end to the current state of uncertainty to allow normal business to resume. 'Crucially, we must see a full exemption for all UK steel exports to the US – without that guarantee some of our leading steel businesses could be left behind, with a threat to jobs and livelihoods.' It comes as a £500 million five-year deal has been struck between Network Rail and British Steel, which Ms Alexander said was a 'vote of confidence'. British Steel is to supply 337,000 tonnes of rail track, with a further 80-90,000 tonnes to be provided by other European manufacturers. The Network Rail contract will start on July 1 and is set to provide the company with 80% of its rail needs. Jingye, which bought British Steel in 2020, launched a consultation in March which it said would affect between 2,000 and 2,700 jobs, despite months of negotiations and a £500 million co-investment offer from the Government. The Scunthorpe plant has been producing steel for Britain's railways since 1865. The Network Rail agreement is the first major public procurement since the Government's emergency legislation was passed. Network Rail's group director for railway business services Clive Berrington said: 'We are committed to buying British where it makes economic sense to do so and British Steel remain extremely competitive in the provision of rail and will remain our main supplier in the years ahead.' Craig Harvey, British Steel's commercial director for rail, added: 'The contract represents a huge vote of confidence in UK workers and British industry, underpinning the vital role we play in ensuring millions of passengers and freight operators enjoy safe, enjoyable and timely journeys on Britain's railways.' Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, national officer at the GMB union, said it was a 'crucial first step in securing the future of our steel industry' and urged ministers to make sure British Steel has a 'constant flow of orders' from other infrastructure projects.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Work to get US steel tariffs removed to go on in coming ‘days, weeks and months'
US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed off a US-UK deal that will slash trade barriers on goods from both countries at the G7 on Monday. But US tariffs for the steel industry will stand at 25% for now rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. This is less than the US global rate of 50% for steel and aluminium. The two leaders pledged to 'make progress towards 0% tariffs on core steel products as agreed', the Department for Business and Trade said. The Chinese ownership of the British Steel could be a sticking point in the deal on steel as the executive order signed by Mr Trump suggests the US wants assurances that the metal originates in the UK. 'The United Kingdom also committed to working to meet American requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminium products intended for export to the United States and on the nature of ownership of relevant production facilities,' the order states. After signing it, the US President was asked whether steel tariffs would be eliminated, to which he replied: 'We're gonna let you have that information in a little while.' In April, the UK Government used emergency powers to take control of British Steel and continue production at the site after Chinese owners Jingye proposed shutting the Scunthorpe site's two blast furnaces and other key steelmaking operations. But its future is still uncertain, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander saying the Government is eager for it to be 'part of a commercially-operated business with private investment'. 'We're talking to a number of third parties about that. At the moment, no options are off the table,' she told Sky News. She said there was still 'more work to do' to get steel tariffs eliminated, including on 'technical detail'. 'We're working through some technical detail around steel because we want to bring that 25% tariff that applies at the moment obviously down further,' she told BBC Breakfast. She said the UK is 'working on getting that implemented'. 'And we're determined to go further and we'll be working on those issues around steel in the coming days, weeks and months,' she added. Alasdair McDiarmid, assistant general secretary of the Community union, said it was 'absolutely vital' to secure a deal on steel as quickly as possible. 'Our steel producers and their US customers need an end to the current state of uncertainty to allow normal business to resume. 'Crucially, we must see a full exemption for all UK steel exports to the US – without that guarantee some of our leading steel businesses could be left behind, with a threat to jobs and livelihoods.' It comes as a £500 million five-year deal has been struck between Network Rail and British Steel, which Ms Alexander said was a 'vote of confidence'. British Steel is to supply 337,000 tonnes of rail track, with a further 80-90,000 tonnes to be provided by other European manufacturers. The Network Rail contract will start on July 1 and is set to provide the company with 80% of its rail needs. Jingye, which bought British Steel in 2020, launched a consultation in March which it said would affect between 2,000 and 2,700 jobs, despite months of negotiations and a £500 million co-investment offer from the Government. The Scunthorpe plant has been producing steel for Britain's railways since 1865. The Network Rail agreement is the first major public procurement since the Government's emergency legislation was passed. Network Rail's group director for railway business services Clive Berrington said: 'We are committed to buying British where it makes economic sense to do so and British Steel remain extremely competitive in the provision of rail and will remain our main supplier in the years ahead.' Craig Harvey, British Steel's commercial director for rail, added: 'The contract represents a huge vote of confidence in UK workers and British industry, underpinning the vital role we play in ensuring millions of passengers and freight operators enjoy safe, enjoyable and timely journeys on Britain's railways.' Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, national officer at the GMB union, said it was a 'crucial first step in securing the future of our steel industry' and urged ministers to make sure British Steel has a 'constant flow of orders' from other infrastructure projects.
