Local MP for Basingstoke, Maria Miller called on the government to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements in all severance agreements.
During urgent ministerial statement in the House of Commons, Maria said, "I welcome the announcement. The evidence is clear that hundreds of victims have lost trust in the criminal justice system, so we need an exceptional process that ensures that every miscarriage of justice can be put right. However, the scandal involves more than financial redress. There are reports that the Post Office insisted on non-disclosure agreements, which silenced victims. In particular, the family of former postmaster Martin Griffiths felt forced to sign a settlement with the Post Office, with a non-disclosure agreement, which hid events around Martin taking his own life for almost a decade. Will my hon. Friend urgently reconsider calls that I and others have made to ban the use of non-disclosure agreements in all severance agreements? I am glad to see the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, my right hon. Friend Edward Argar on the Front Bench. I think that both Ministers share my concern and want action."
The Minister, Kevin Hollinrake, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade), responded "That is a well-timed question, given that my right hon. Friend the Justice Minister is sitting next to me. My right hon. Friend Dame Maria Miller is right to say that this is an exceptional process. As she knows, non-disclosure agreements cannot prevent somebody from going to the police... That was not the point my right hon. Friend was making. I understand her point. She wants to ensure that non-disclosure agreements are not used for the purpose she described or for other purposes, such as sexual harassment and bullying. She is running a fantastic campaign and we have heard what she has said. We will continue to work with her."