The UK government continues to allow Fujitsu to bid for public sector contracts, even as hundreds of subpostmasters wait for compensation payouts following the Horizon IT scandal. The Japanese technology giant appears on a new list of suppliers eligible to pitch for lucrative government work.
Horizon scandal background
Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of subpostmasters were wrongfully convicted of stealing after Fujitsu’s Horizon IT system falsely indicated missing money from their branches. Many also covered supposed shortfalls from their personal savings. An inquiry chaired by Sir Wyn Williams is ongoing.
The Post Office has continued using versions of the software and recently extended its contract to March 2027. Earlier this year, it awarded Accenture and One View Commerce a contract to eventually replace Fujitsu’s systems.
Fujitsu’s bidding status
Fujitsu previously said it had voluntarily paused bids for new government contracts. However, it is now bidding for extensions or fresh contracts with existing government customers. According to the Daily Mail, this includes a £61 million contract with HMRC for a self-assessment tax return system, understood to be a renewal.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “We follow all relevant procurement regulations when awarding suppliers onto our commercial agreements. There is no guarantee a supplier will be awarded any work once they have been placed on a framework.”
Compensation and Fujitsu’s role
Thousands of claimants have received interim compensation, but the government stated last month that “redress claims may not all be settled in 2026”. The government has funded around £1.5 billion in payments, while Fujitsu has not directly paid compensation to affected subpostmasters.
A Fujitsu spokeswoman said: “Fujitsu’s inclusion in the supplier list for this framework supports potential extensions or rebidding with existing customers, in line with our voluntary pause on public sector bidding. We continue to work with the UK Government to ensure we adhere to the restrictions we put in place regarding new contracts. Our conversations with Government regarding our contribution to compensation are ongoing.”
