Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham has expressed concerns that the planned release of documents related to the Hillsborough disaster could be blocked by the government.
Raising a point of order, the shadow health secretary told the Commons that he was concerned by a report in the Daily Mirror suggesting culture secretary Jeremy Hunt was taking a "new look" at the issue.
Burnham, from Liverpool, told the Commons: "We have heard this week, 20 years on from the Hillsborough disaster, that there are still misconceptions about the tragedy, even within the Cabinet.
"This is precisely why I, together with Maria Eagle and Derek Twigg, called for the full disclosure of all public documents relating to the disaster and the establishment of the Hillsborough Independent Panel - to give the people of Merseyside the full truth and to end these misconceptions once and for all."
He said that the terms of reference and funding for the panel had been signed off by the previous Labour administration ahead of May's general election.
Burnham told the Speaker: "Is it in order that on an issue of this significance and importance, that a change in policy can be dealt with by off-the-record briefings?"
Bercow said that indeed it was the case that should a minister make a new commitment in "terms of policy or to change a hitherto understood public policy", then it should be brought to the House.
He said he understood the "extreme importance" of the issue.
Earlier this week, the culture secretary apologised after suggesting that hooliganism played a part in the Hillsborough football disaster.
During questions on future Commons business, Twigg called for called for full publication of documents into the Hillsborough inquiry, expressing concerns that the government would not disclose all details due to the costs involved.
The Halton MP said the last government had agreed there would be a release of files and documents.
He told MPs: "There are rumours circulating that the government is thinking about not publishing the files and there are arguments between government departments about the cost of this."
Responding, deputy Commons leader David Heath said he understood the continuing effect of the tragedy and would pass the MPs concerns on to ministers.
He added: "I think it's extremely important that we provide as much succour and comfort as is possible to those people."



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