Campaigners said the figures, obtained from a freedom of information request, indicated that postmasters were being “timed out” in negotiations on compensation and said ministers should intervene.

A glitch in the Horizon IT system meant that thousands of Post Office owner-managers were accused of taking money from their tills. More than 700 people were prosecuted for crimes, including fraud and theft and were jailed. Some were driven to suicide in the scandal that occurred between 1999 and 2015.

Up to £1 billion of taxpayers’ money has been set aside to settle compensation claims and legal fees but delays could mean that more victims fail to receive a settlement in their lifetime.

Former executives at the Post Office are being told to answer for their actions to an inquiry later this year.

The biggest miscarriage in British history, the scandal came about when, in 2000, Tony Blair’s government brought in a £1bn computer system called Horizon across the Post Office network.

In the ensuing 15 years, some 3,500 postmasters were wrongly accused of taking money from their businesses.

The Post Office said: “It’s our priority to compensate postmasters fully and fairly.”

A business department spokesman said: “To date, over £100 million has been paid in compensation … and we will continue to compensate the 492 eligible postmasters in the Group Litigation Order before the August 2024 deadline.”