The European boss of Fujitsu has strongly rejected a claim from a senior MP that the technology giant is behaving like "a parasite on the British state" over its continued government contracts and failure to pay into a compensation fund for Post Office scandal victims.
Parliamentary Committee Confrontation
The heated exchange took place during a session of the Business and Trade Select Committee, which is examining the ongoing search for justice for sub-postmasters. Hundreds were wrongly prosecuted due to catastrophic failures in the Horizon IT system, which Fujitsu built and maintained.
Committee chair Liam Byrne MP directly challenged Fujitsu director Paul Patterson. He stated that the company's refusal to disclose how much it would contribute towards the £1.8 billion taxpayer-funded redress scheme led to the conclusion it was acting like a parasite, shirking its obligations.
Mr Patterson firmly denied the label. "We're not a parasite," he asserted, arguing that the government had the option to extend its public sector contracts or not. He claimed ending Fujitsu's UK government work, which includes an estimated £500 million in recent extensions, would be "detrimental to society."
Awaiting the Public Inquiry
Despite stating two years ago that it had a "moral obligation" to contribute, Fujitsu has yet to pay a single penny towards victim compensation. During the hearing, it became clear the company is waiting for the conclusion of the public inquiry led by Sir Wyn Williams before announcing a specific financial figure.
Mr Patterson revealed that new information had come to light since his last committee appearance, including details about the "Capture" accounting system. This was a predecessor to Horizon used in the 1990s, which also produced unreliable data. "I didn't know about a Capture system," he said, emphasising the need for Sir Wyn's final report to inform their commitment.
Mounting Pressure for Justice
The session also heard from victims' lawyers and Post Office chair Nigel Railton, who all called for greater urgency in delivering redress and justice. Mr Railton added his personal view that the government should legislate to exonerate victims of the Capture system, as it has for those affected by Horizon.
Pressure is intensifying on both Fujitsu and the government to secure a substantial contribution from the firm at the centre of one of the UK's most widespread miscarriages of justice. Mr Patterson pointed to Fujitsu's four-decade UK presence and 5,000 employees, insisting it remained "a very serious organisation" committed to its responsibilities.
