Technology giant Fujitsu has declined to specify how much it will contribute to the enormous £1.8 billion compensation bill for the Post Office Horizon scandal, which continues to be funded by the British taxpayer. A senior company executive also confessed that no funds have yet been set aside to cover its eventual contribution.
Executive Grilled by MPs Over Financial Responsibility
Paul Patterson, a director at Fujitsu Services Ltd, faced intense questioning from the Commons Business and Trade Committee on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. He stated the firm was committed to contributing but insisted the amount would only be decided after the publication of the official public inquiry's findings. "We will decide (a figure) when we see the report," he told MPs.
His stance was met with sharp criticism. Liberal Democrat MP Charlie Maynard challenged him directly, stating, "This whole problem would not have happened without Fujitsu’s failures." He demanded Patterson relay a message to Fujitsu's chairman, asking executives to explain to the committee why they should not pay the full £1.8bn.
Committee chair, Labour MP Liam Byrne, highlighted the ongoing paradox, noting that Fujitsu continues to receive significant public money, "still taking £1m a day from British taxpayers" through various government contracts, even as it avoids clarifying its compensation liability.
A 'Titanic Battle' for Justice Continues for Victims
The hearing also provided a stark reminder of the human cost of the scandal, described by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as "one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history." Hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted for theft and false accounting due to bugs in Fujitsu's Horizon software, leading to imprisonment and financial ruin for many.
Glenys Eaton, a former subpostmistress, gave powerful testimony. She and her husband were prosecuted for the same offence, yet only her husband's conviction was initially quashed. She told MPs she was forced to fight a "Titanic battle" and pay £5,000 for a barrister to secure a judicial review. Her own conviction was only overturned "weeks ago," she revealed, despite legislation designed to fast-track quashing such convictions coming into force in May 2024.
Her lawyer, David Enright of Howe & Co Solicitors, warned the committee, "I am certain there are many Mrs Eaton’s out there." The committee also heard that one subpostmaster had been incorrectly informed they did not qualify for compensation, raising further concerns about the process.
Public Inquiry Outcome Awaited Amid Mounting Pressure
With the public inquiry into the scandal ongoing, pressure is mounting on Fujitsu to make a substantial financial commitment. Paul Patterson has previously admitted the company "clearly let society down" and that bugs and errors existed "right from the very start." However, the firm's continued refusal to outline a concrete compensation plan leaves victims and taxpayers in limbo, awaiting both justice and a clear indication of who will ultimately bear the colossal financial burden.
