Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters wrongly convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal will have their convictions quashed following landmark legislation that’s just been introduced. This blanket exoneration, delivered through the Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill, will quash convictions brought about by erroneous Horizon evidence, clearing the names of many people who have had their lives ruined. Affected sub-postmasters will receive an interim payment with the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of £600,000, so that they can finally begin to rebuild their lives. Under the proposed Bill, convictions will be automatically quashed if they meet the following criteria:

• Were prosecuted by the Post Office or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
• Were for offences carried out in connection with Post Office business between 1996 and 2018.
• Were for relevant offences such as theft, fraud and false accounting.
• Were against sub-postmasters, their employees, officers, family members or direct employees of the Post Office working in a Post Office that used the Horizon system software.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak  said: “I want to pay tribute to all the postmasters who have shown such courage and perseverance in their fierce campaign for justice, and to those who tragically won’t see the justice they deserve. “While I know that nothing can make up for what they’ve been through, today’s legislation marks an important step forward in finally clearing their names. “We owe it to the victims of this scandal who have had their lives and livelihoods callously torn apart, to deliver the justice they’ve fought so long and hard for, and to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.” The Government will also bring forward payments for postmasters who were not convicted, or part of legal action against the Post Office, but who still suffered considerably due to Horizon failures. They will have the option to receive a fixed sum payment of £75,000. Those who have already settled for less money will have their redress topped up to this level bringing them in line with the successful approach taken for members of the Group Litigation Order group of postmasters. The Department for Business and Trade will now be responsible for delivering the new Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme which will make redress payments to those who have had their convictions quashed by today’s legislation. The aim is to have the scheme open for applications as soon as possible once the legislation has been passed. Postal Affairs Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “Postmasters have been fighting for justice for years, and I hope the introduction of today’s legislation is the light at the end of the tunnel they have been waiting for. “It is only right that postmasters have access to swift and fair compensation which is why those with overturned convictions have the option of immediately taking a fixed and final offer of £600,000 and why we are changing the rules for those in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, so they are entitled to a £75,000 fixed sum award, bypassing the assessment process.”

The sale of long-established family business York Pullman Bus Company to FirstGroup plc has been completed.

MD Tom James will remain with York Pullman and continue to run the business under the same name with support from his existing team and First Bus, which is FirstGroup’s bus division. The deal has been competed with advisory services fromaccountancy firm Azets and regional law firm Andrew Jackson.

Nick Barker, Corporate Finance Partner from Azets Yorkshire acted for York Pullman, with Karen Sadler, Senior Manager in Tax Advisory, providing the tax support. They worked closely with Mr James as well as a legal team led by Susie Mortonson, Corporate Partner at regional law firm Andrew Jackson. The deal had been announced in January before being completed following standard regulatory reviews. Mr Barker said: “It has been a privilege to assist Tom with the sale of York Pullman, which is such a well-known and well-regarded York name. Through his expert guidance it has grown to hold a dominant position as the leading independent bus and coach operator in the local market. “It was particularly important that we found a partner that shared that same integrity and values that have made the business such a success and I am delighted that in FirstGroup we have found a new owner that is committed to continuing the name and good work of York Pullman.” Susie Mortonson added: “It has been a pleasure to support and guide Tom and his team on this significant transaction. York Pullman is a fantastic business and I wish them every success as the business enters a new chapter as part of FirstGroup.” Tom James said: “I am extremely grateful for the exceptional professional advice and guidance provided by Azets and Andrew Jackson Solicitors throughout the entire process. “Their support will enable York Pullman to build and grow on its successes as it looks towards an exciting future with FirstGroup.” York Pullman has more than 130 vehicles and is made up of five well-established brands in regional and business-to-business operations in York and North Yorkshire. These include home-to-school and college contracted services, private hire and local bus routes run on behalf of local councils. The York Pullman name can be traced back to the 1920s before it was resurrected by Tom James in 2007. Vehicles were painted in the original Pullman livery colours as the company’s brand once again appeared on York’s city streets.

An innovative scheme to create a pathway to net zero carbon emissions for a North Yorkshire industrial estate has won government support. Decarbonising Dalton has been awarded £129,064 by Innovate UK towards a £201,763 project. It will fund a 12 month-long feasibility study at the rural Dalton Industrial estate near Thirsk, to look into emissions associated with power, heat, materials and transport and how those can be reduced. Business leaders hope that the solution will find a pathway to net zero for other industrial estates across the country to follow. It is projected that electricity demand on the estate of 28 businesses, including nine larger companies, will more than double in the next three years and beyond, with planning permission already granted to extend the area by another 22 hectares. The project will draw up detailed assessments for each business and propose an action plan to take them to net zero whilst minimising offsetting. It will be delivered in five phases – business needs assessments, quick win reductions, shared onsite opportunities, offsite interventions, and collation and knowledge sharing. Executive member for climate change, Cllr Greg White, said: “There is growing enthusiasm among Dalton business leaders to tackle carbon emissions but there are also constraints on the electricity grid. Owners of the largest businesses – and users – are working together to find a solution that helps them all grow in a more sustainable manner. “They are looking at innovative ways to maximise benefits for the environment as well as for themselves. They aim to plan a route to net zero for Dalton which will become a blueprint for the decarbonisation of smaller, particularly rural industrial estates across the UK.” The project is being led by a partnership of North Yorkshire Council, six Dalton businesses – Cleveland Steel and Tubes Limited, Wetherby Stone Products Limited, Severfield plc, Inspired Pet Nutrition Limited, Citivale Group Holdings Ltd and National Tube Stockholders – and Northern Powergrid. Partnership spokesperson and head of ESG at Severfield plc, Michaela Lindridge, said: “We are all committed to advancing the decarbonisation of our industries through our normal business so we are thrilled and excited to be able to potentially take the lead in decarbonisation for industry in general. “Sustainability plays a vital role in the way in which we do business. Together we can support our ambitions for carbon neutral manufacturing in the region, as well as share experience and expertise in green technologies and actively working together to diminish our carbon footprint through sustainable production practices and energy-efficient manufacturing. “This project presents a unique opportunity to drive sustainability forward for many different businesses and we are excited to see what opportunities lie ahead.” Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate. Dr Bryony Livesey, UKRI Challenge Director, Industrial Decarbonisation, said: “This project shows the keenness of businesses to collaborate on plans to decarbonise by forming local industrial clusters and working together to drive down emissions. This is a crucial step in tackling decarbonisation at dispersed sites on the UK’s journey towards net zero by 2050.”