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Up to 16,000 people from across the UK — including all current sub-postmasters and Horizon Shortfall scheme applicants — have been asked to complete a survey about their experience of the Post Office and Horizon or of claiming compensation.

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is investigating failings surrounding the Horizon IT system which led to the wrongful prosecution and conviction of sub-postmasters.

UK parliamentary data shows that there were around 494 post offices in Northern Ireland as of March 2023. Some of these are crown post offices, however the vast majority are owned by sub-postmasters who will receive the survey.

Those contacted have until midnight on Friday 9 August to complete the survey.

In a hearing on Wednesday, inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams and lead counsel Jason Beer KC urged any contacted by the inquiry to complete the survey.

Sir Wyn said: “It is crucial that I get as full a response as possible to these surveys, because we have looked long at the past, but now… I want to know about the present.”

Mr Beer KC added: “I would like to end by encouraging those, everyone who has received a link to the surveys, to complete them. It’s vital from the Inquiry’s perspective that we enter Phase 7 with as full a body of evidence about the current position as is possible.”

The two surveys are conducted by independent research and data analytics firm YouGov. Those eligible to take part have been contacted via email.

The findings of the surveys will be presented as evidence during the inquiry’s final phase.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Sir Wyn also stressed that the survey is anonymous and independent of the Post Office.

He said: “I want to stress that the surveys are not connected to the Post Office. If you find it difficult to speak about challenges which you still face, you people out there whom I am addressing, please be assured that these surveys are for the benefit of the inquiry.”