COMPENSATION should be paid by Fujitsu to subpostmasters caught up in the Horizon scandal, says a Warrington MP.

Charlotte Nichols, Labour MP for Warrington North, has called on the Government to take legislative steps to require Fujitsu to compensate victims.

She did so in a written question to the Department for Business and Trade, asking the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will take legislative steps to require Fujitsu to compensate subpostmasters impacted by the Horizon IT system.

Hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongly convicted because of faulty accounting software, with the major miscarriage of justice in the spotlight thanks to an ITV drama.

Ms Nichols sits on the Business and Trade Committee, which is undertaking an ongoing enquiry into the Post Office and Horizon scandal.

The question was answered by Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Business and Trade.

He said: “The extent of Fujitsu’s culpability for the scandal will not be clear until the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry reports.

“However, ministers have made clear that the taxpayer should not have to meet all the costs of the scandal.

“In the light of such comments – which have attracted widespread public support – Fujitsu has recently apologised publicly for its role in the scandal, and has accepted that it has a moral obligation to contribute to its costs.

“The Government welcomes these statements and will continue to discuss matters with Fujitsu.”