- MPs seek Fujitsu contract details
- Horizon scandal prompts scrutiny
- Fujitsu abstains from bids
MPs have requested that twenty-one public sector organizations, including the Treasury and HMRC, disclose the specifics of any contracts awarded to Fujitsu following the Post Office computer system scandal.
Since 2019, the Commons Treasury Committee has expressed concern about the amount of money spent on contracts with the company, funded by taxpayers.
The High Court ruled at that time that prosecutions had been unjustly initiated based on a defect in Fujitsu’s Horizon IT system.
Fujitsu has expressed regret for its contribution and declared that it will abstain from bidding for additional government contracts until the public investigation into the scandal is fully concluded.
Estimates indicate that Fujitsu secured over £4 billion in government business over the past five years, despite revelations about Horizon defects.
The Treasury Committee’s letter has also been delivered to the Royal Mint, the Bank of England, the Crown Estate, and the Financial Conduct Authority, inquiring about any contracts awarded to Fujitsu Services Limited or other Fujitsu Global-owned entities.
“Public concern exists regarding the degree to which they serve as government suppliers,” said Harriet Baldwin, chairman of the Treasury Committee.
Fujitsu Faces Public Scrutiny Amid Horizon Scandal Fallout
Ms. Baldwin called for public protest, denouncing victim injustices and said Fujitsu had unanswered concerns.
She emphasized the importance of visibility into taxpayer funds spent with Fujitsu since the High Court decision. Their suitability as a government supplier is under evaluation.
Hundreds of sub-postmasters and postmistresses were prosecuted between 1999 and 2015. The charges were related to the Horizon system, which generated inaccurate financial statements.
The victims were falsely accused of offenses such as larceny, fraud, and false accounting. A mere 93 erroneous convictions have been overturned to date, with thousands awaiting compensation settlements.
The government declared its intention to exonerate and compensate those affected by the scandal this month.
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The correspondence requests information on contract values. It inquires whether they were awarded through open competition, considers Horizon system concerns, and examines Fujitsu’s performance monitoring.
Inquiries may also pertain to the tendering process. The due diligence procedure considers the company’s involvement in the controversy and whether contract termination was contemplated.
Despite the Horizon scandal, the UK government awarded Fujitsu public contracts valued at billions of pounds. Cabinet Office Minister Alex Burghart said the business informed him it would not bid for public contracts during the examination.
The inquiry heard that Fujitsu had “obviously failed society and the sub-postmasters.” According to the corporation, it has a “moral obligation” to assist in compensating victims.
