Lawmakers are considering sanctions against former Postmaster General Paula Vennells amid revelations she may have known about remote access to the Horizon system two years ago and then denied it to lawmakers .

The cross-party business and trade committee has announced “all options on the table” as it considers action against former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells over possible misinformation over the Horizon scandal parliament.

It follows allegations that Ms Vinnells was briefed by the Post Office’s general counsel that a department at Fujitsu headquarters in Bracknell had remote access to the deputy postmaster’s account.

in the tape obtained Channel 4the Post Office’s chief lawyer, Susan Crichton, confirmed this twice Ms Vinnells The allegations were known more than two years before the Post Office stopped prosecuting its deputy postmaster general and two years before the former CEO told members of Congress in 2015 that it was impossible to remotely access the deputy postmaster general’s account.

The former post office boss denied in letters to parliament that remote access was possible, and those denials were used in court cases against deputy postmasters including Alan Bates back in 2019 .

Committee chairman Liam Byrne said his committee was “deeply concerned by the latest revelations” and “will explore options to punish the leadership that presided over the scandal.”

The Labor MP added: “All options are on the table, including the House of Commons exercising its powers in contempt of parliament.

“We must make absolutely sure that we do not jeopardize any future legal action or undermine Sir Wyn Williams’ public inquiry. I will put forward options to my committee for careful consideration when Parliament returns later this month.”

If someone is found in contempt of Parliament, it means someone is disrupting Parliament or preventing its members from carrying out their duties. It is loosely defined and only Parliament can decide whether something constitutes contempt.

in the past, when someone misleading the House of Representativesengage in financial misconduct, leak parliamentary proceedings or disobey orders.

In July last year, the Privileges Committee found that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson “deliberately misled” MPs on party issues and “repeatedly showed contempt for Parliament”.

The committee recommended that Mr Johnson should not be granted a former MP’s pass, which gives most former prime ministers and lawmakers automatic access to parliament, and recommended that he be suspended from the House of Commons for 90 days if he had not resigned.

Some MPs have criticized penalties for contempt of court as being insufficient, as Parliament is no longer in the habit of jailing or fining perpetrators.

In 2019, former Vote Leave director Dominic Cummings was found in contempt of parliament after refusing to attend an evidence session after being summoned by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.

Mr Cummings was warned in the House of Commons but no further action was taken, leading some MPs to call for stronger parliamentary powers.

The Business and Trade Committee is expected to discuss any further action after Parliament adjourns.

We contacted the Post Office for comment.