Achi news desk-
But other political parties have criticized the SNP for asking ministers in Whitehall to effectively “disregard devolution” by insisting that they legislate in a devolved area.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf criticizes the UK Government’s decision on the Horizon scandal law
More than 900 convictions have been linked to the software, including around 60 in Scotland.
The new legislation – which is being debated in the House of Commons this afternoon – will overturn convictions for theft, fraud, false accounting, money laundering and any related offenses handed down in connection with prosecutions in England and Wales and taken between 23 September 1996 and 31 December 2018.
Last week, the draft Bill was amended to cover Northern Ireland.
Prime Minister Humza Yousaf has said many times that his choice is to pass a Legislative Consent Motion to allow the UK Government’s legal solution to apply north of the border.
Ministers in London have been equally clear that as justice is devolved and prosecutions are carried out in a completely separate system it is the responsibility of ministers in Edinburgh to find their own solution.
There are also divisions in the Scottish Government. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has said that there can be no quick fix for Scotland’s victims and that it is “vital that due process is followed.”
He said the “proper process” for people to clear their names was through the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) and the High Court of Appeal.
Ahead of today’s debate in the House of Commons, Marion Fellows, SNP MP for Motherwell and Wishaw, who has long campaigned on the Post Office scandal, said: “By refusing to adopt a four-nation approach, the UK government is politicizing an issue cynical. that we should all be united in our efforts to secure expulsion and full financial compensation for the victims of this scandal.
“Their U-turn on including Northern Ireland in the bill shows that they can include Scotland but simply choose not to.” They should support our amendments that would change this.”
Ms Fellows said the “responsibility to right this injustice falls squarely at Westminster’s door.”
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf cannot avoid Scotland’s involvement in the Post Office scandal
Mr Yousaf has previously said that the Scottish Government is working on its own legislation if the UK Government does not extend their Bill.
However, Scottish Labor MP Michael Marra has promised to introduce a members’ bill on the issue “if the SNP does not act with the urgency required.”
He said “The Scottish Government is responsible for dealing with this scandal, but even after years of inaction, the SNP still has no clear plan to deliver its own legislation.
“It is shameful that the SNP is trying to disregard devolution and transfer the money for this scandal to the UK government.
“Urgent action is needed to overturn these convictions and address this colossal injustice.”
The Department of Business and Commerce has been contacted for comment.
