Basingstoke's current MP Maria Miller has offered support to the victims and their families of the contaminated blood scandal after it was revealed that a Hampshire boarding school was "well aware" of the risk of infecting them with HIV.

More than 30,000 people were infected with deadly viruses between the 1970s and early 1990s as they received blood transfusions or blood products while receiving NHS care.

Boys at Lord Mayor Treloar College in Alton were used as "objects for research" during this time, according to a 2,527-page report from the Infected Blood Inquiry, published on Monday, May 21.

Only 30 of 122 pupils with haemophilia at the school in the 1970s and 80s were still alive, according to the report.

READ MORE: Children used as ‘objects for research’, Infected Blood Inquiry report finds

The inquiry found that the infected blood scandal “could largely have been avoided” and there was a “pervasive” cover-up to hide the truth.

Some 3,000 people have since died.

Condemning decades of institutional cover-ups, Maria Miller MP said she would do everything she could to make sure any victims of their bereaved families who live in Basingstoke know how they can access the support.

“Fifty years of institutional cover up by successive governments, the department of health and the NHS has been laid bare today," she said.

"The Prime Minister’s statement sets out the moral failure of the State and the NHS which is at the core of these events. 

“It is right that victims, their families and the bereaved receive an apology. Yet, there are no words that can make up for the loss, suffering and devastation that has been caused over the past 5 decades. Today must be the start of ensuring justice is finally achieved.

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Dame Maria added that her thoughts and prayers are with all of the former pupils and their families who were affected by the scandal. 

“We are affected in Basingstoke," she said.

"Treloars’ Collage is specifically mentioned by Longstaff for the way in which pupils and their parents were unwittingly involved. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the former pupils and their families at such a difficult time."

The MP added that there should be new criminal laws to stamp out cover-up culture.

“The British Public are weary of a catalogue of cover ups that have spanned decades, involving British institutions and Government departments," she said.

"One thing allowed all of this catalogue of wrongdoing to continue, a culture of cover-up that could never be successfully challenged by the victims. People should never again have to fight for decades to have injustice recognised and righted. 

“If the Government is to make good on its words today there needs to be a complete change of attitude and culture, particularly in our public services and the Civil Service, to outlaw any form of cover-up, making transparency the norm. Shaking off 5 decades where cover up has been an accepted norm will require significant action. I for one shall be advocating that laws are in place to make any such attempt to cover up wrongdoing a criminal offence.”