MEMBERS of Parliament will grill senior Post Office figures over its running of a mediation scheme involving sub-postmasters.

The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee will receive written and oral evidence during its session on Tuesday, February 3, it was announced today.

As reported in The Gazette, hundreds of sub-postmasters have been accused of fraud by the Post Office and had their contracts terminated.

They include Jo Hamilton, who was the sub-postmaster in South Warnborough. The sub-postmasters argue that any discrepancies in their accounts were due to the Horizon computer software provided by the Post Office.

Last year, Mrs Hamilton’s MP James Arbuthnot said he had lost faith in a mediation scheme set up by the Post Office to address the group’s concerns.

The North East Hampshire held an adjournment debate at Westminster Hall on the scheme, where MPs criticised the mediation scheme.

The select committee will receive evidence from the Communication Workers Union, the National Federation of SubPostmasters, the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, the Post Office and Second Sight, which has reviewed the Horizon accounting system.

Mr Arbuthnot said: "It is good news that this independent committe will look at the mediation scheme.

"Every opportunity to shed light on what is fast becoming a secretive and to my mind, discredited, process should be heartily welcomed.

"I look forward to hearing the evidence produced and submitting my own to this distinguished group of MPs."