THE government must not use the compensation progress to “bury criticism” in the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report, the Haemophilia Society has said.

In private meetings with campaigners last week, the government indicated that it proposes to publish full details of its compensation plans, possibly including tariff amounts, within hours of the final report being released on May 20, the society added.

The compensation, which is set to be “northwards of £10 billion,” has not yet been signed off by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak but has the support of the Treasury and the Cabinet Office.

Tens of thousands of people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C when they received infected blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s.

The Infected Blood Inquiry made its final recommendations on compensation for victims and their loved ones in April last year.

The Haemophilia Society said it “welcomes all progress towards fair and swift compensation payments,” but it also urged the government “not to obscure the serious and far-reaching recommendations likely to come from the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final recommendations.”

A government spokesperson said it was “clear that justice needs to be done and swiftly.”