Fujitsu’s European boss has denied that the company is “a parasite on the British state” after MPs challenged it over its position on Post Office scandal compensation.
The confrontation came during a parliamentary committee session examining the “continued search for justice and accountability” for victims.
The government has set aside £1.8bn for redress for sub‑postmasters wrongly prosecuted due to failures in Fujitsu’s Horizon IT system.
The company is yet to contribute towards compensation despite saying it had a “moral obligation” to, two years ago.
Paul Patterson, director at Fujitsu Services Ltd, was also questioned by MPs about the company securing public sector contract extensions worth an estimated £500m, amid assurances it would not bid for new UK government work.
Chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee of MPs, Liam Byrne, told the executive: “Your refusal to tell us how much Fujitsu will pay into a £1.8bn bill for taxpayers leads people to the conclusion that frankly Fujitsu is behaving like a parasite on the British state without an obligation to step up to its obligations.”
The Fujitsu boss rejected the accusation stating: “We’re not a parasite… the government has got an option as to whether they wish to extend those contracts or not. If you wish us to walk away from those contracts, we’ll walk away from those contracts,” he said.
He argued that ending Fujitsu’s government work would be “detrimental to society” and insisted the company had only extended its Post Office contract because ministers requested it.
The executive pointed to Fujitsu’s four‑decade presence in the UK, its 5,000 employees and its network of subcontractors, saying the firm remained “a very serious organisation” committed to its responsibilities.
Pressure is mounting on the government to secure a substantial financial contribution from Fujitsu, which built and maintained the Horizon system at the centre of one of the UK’s biggest miscarriages of justice.
During the committee hearing, however, it became clear that Fujitsu will be waiting until the conclusion to the public inquiry into the scandal, chaired by Sir Wyn Williams, before announcing a specific figure.
Mr Patterson also said that Fujitsu needs to be “informed by Sir Wyn” adding that more information has come to light since he last appeared before the committee including about the “Capture system”.
“I didn’t know about a Capture system,” he said, “I didn’t know there were victims of that, I didn’t know there was legal advice in 2013 telling the Post Office what to do or not to.
“That is why Sir Wyn’s advice is really, really important to us and will inform the commitment I am giving you again and that I have given to the committee before that we will contribute to redress.”
Capture was an accounting system used in the 1990s pre‑dating Horizon, which also produced unreliable data.
Sky News has helped expose the scale of the scandal by uncovering a long‑lost document in a retired expert’s garage.
The session also heard from others connected to the Post Office scandal, including victims’ lawyers, who echoed calls for greater urgency in delivering redress and justice.
Nigel Railton, chair of the Post Office, said it was his personal opinion that the government should legislate to exonerate Capture victims, similar to Horizon victims.
