00:00It is crucial that I get as full a response as possible to these surveys because we have
00:09looked long at the past, but now I'm coming up to date, so to speak, and I want to know
00:16about the present, both in terms of sub-postmasters' reactions to the present regime, survey number
00:261, and postmasters' reactions to the compensation scheme, HSS, in particular. I think I am now
00:38brave enough to say that I have stretched my terms of reference on compensation to and
00:45perhaps beyond breaking point. It's something I am very keen to say as much about as I reasonably
00:54can, so I need as much help as possible from those who are claiming compensation in order
01:03to make proper conclusions about what has happened and whether it lives up to the mantra
01:12of being full and fair. I want to stress that the surveys are not connected to the post
01:23office. I said that, I think, some weeks ago when they were first introduced, but I want to stress
01:29that because I can't help but think that there will be lurking in some people's minds, do we
01:37really want to get involved with this? Is the post office somehow behind it? The post office is not.
01:44This is for the benefit of the inquiry, and so if you find it difficult to speak about
01:52challenges which you still face, you people out there whom I am addressing, please be assured
01:59that these surveys are for the benefit of the inquiry and therefore ultimately for the benefit
02:07of me writing a sensible report about the information they will contain.
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