Achi news desk-
MSPs voted to treat the Bill as emergency legislation earlier this month, speeding up its journey and meaning stage two would be done before all MSPs in the Holyrood chamber rather than by committee.
In a largely consensual debate, one of the key changes to the legislation will see the Bill include those who have lost an appeal against their conviction.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “We now know that in many appeal cases members of the judiciary would not be aware of Horizon system issues at the time of appeal decisions.
READ MORE: Former Post Office boss breaks down in tears at Horizon inquiry
“And even if an appeal was considered after the problems with Horizon came to light, any convictions considered on appeal would have been subject to a different test to convictions which are repealed by the Bill this.
“These amendments will ensure that all persons whose conviction meets the Bill’s criteria are treated equally and have their convictions quashed, regardless of previous appeal decisions.”
Ms Constance said she had sought assurances from UK minister Kevin Hollinrake that the change will not affect victims’ access to the reparations scheme.
“The certainty I received cleared the way for me to introduce these amendments and ensure that postmasters who in the past tried to appeal against their convictions are not treated less favorably than their peers,” he said.
The Bill passed its first stage unanimously on Tuesday and its second stage came on Thursday as Ms Constance said she could not rule out recalling Holyrood during the summer recess if the UK legislation was passed while MEPs were away.
