As I said at stage 2, I absolutely recognise the desire for those who were responsible for this unprecedented miscarriage of justice to be held to account. However, as Ms Chapman is aware, I am unable to support her amendments.
The purpose of the bill is deliberately quite narrow: it is to deliver action to ensure that those who have been affected by wrongful convictions can receive justice by having those convictions quashed, thus enabling them to access compensation from the United Kingdom Government Post Office schemes. It is not for the bill to conduct a wholesale review of the Horizon scandal. That process is already under way in a more fitting arena.
The Post Office Horizon information technology inquiry, led by retired High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams, was established to provide a clear account of the implementation and failings of the Horizon system—the causes and consequences. It is being supported by evidence from relevant organisations in a Scottish context.
The establishment of an inquiry was supported by the Scottish Government. It is the correct process for findings and recommendations as to further action that is required. There are more than 200 specific issues listed on the inquiry website, reflecting the key themes on which the inquiry intends to focus its investigative work. That includes investigations and prosecutions. My predecessor, Keith Brown, resolved with the UK Government in 2022 that the scope of the inquiry should be extended to cover Scottish cases.