VICTIMS of the Post Office Horizon scandal will get funded legal advice for appeals, the government announced today.

The first part of a report from a public inquiry led by Sir Wyn Williams found about 1,000 people were wrongfully prosecuted and convicted between 1999 and 2015 as a result of defective Fujitsu software.

Accepting all but one of his recommendations — to close a Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) dispute resolution process — ministers said that those who previously accepted a HSS compensation fixed sum offer will have funded legal advice to seek permission from an independent person to appeal.

Victims will be able to decide whether they would like to remain in the scheme or proceed to appeal, with a “clear definition” of what constitutes “full and fair redress” to be published soon.

Sir Gary Hickinbottom has been appointed the senior lawyer to oversee the HSS, which will now close on January 31 2026, rather than November 27.