Source: Daily_Mail
Hillsborough disaster files: MPS set to debate full release
A demand for full disclosure of government documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster will be debated by MPs on Monday. [LNB]The House of Commons is considering the call after an e-petition garnered the signatures of more than 139,000 people. [LNB]Ministers have already indicated they back the uncensored release of all material, including key Cabinet minutes. [LNB] Tragedy: 96 Liverpool fans died at Hillsborough and Sheffield MP and Deputy PM Nick Clegg has called for the release of all government files on the disaster[LNB]The Hillsborough Family Support Group are particularly keen to learn about briefings South Yorkshire Police gave then prime minister Margaret Thatcher during a visit the day after the 1989 tragedy. Previous attempts to have documents released have failed.[LNB]95 fans died on April 15, 1989, when acrush started in the caged pens at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium. The 96th and final victim died in 1992 after three years in a coma.[LNB]Liverpool were playing Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-final at the home of Sheffield Wednesday, but the game was called off after just six minutes due to the chaos in the stands.[LNB]The immediate blame for the crush was put on fans but the inquest by Lord Justice Taylor raised questions over the safety of football grounds and the actions of the police. [LNB]The Hillsborough debate is scheduled to begin at 7pm on Monday.[LNB]Itis the second petition to be debated in the Commons since the coalitionintroduced the e-petition system. MPs considered the riots last week, and are also set to discuss British membership of the European Union. [LNB] Moving tribute: Liverpool fans packed Anfield in April 2009 for a memorial service commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hillsborough[LNB] [LNB] Campaign: Many feel that the police should take responsibility for the tragedy[LNB]Home Secretary Theresa May is expected to restate the government's position is a 'commitment to full transparency about the Hillsborough disaster through full public disclosure'. [LNB]David Cameron has pledged to release all Cabinet papers on the tragedy, which the Prime Minister revealed in a letter to Labour minister Andy Burnham, according to The Mirror.[LNB]He wrote: The Government is committed to full disclosure of the Hillsborough information it holds. We have proposed that disclosure takes place to the families prior to wider publication.'[LNB]The Hillsborough Independent Panel, which was tasked with 'maximum public disclosure' of public agency documents and looking at the options for creating an archive of Hillsborough material, was set up in 2009 by the then Labour government, and is due to complete its work in 2012. The panel is chaired by Bishop of Liverpool James Jones.[LNB] Sombre: Then Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish (left) with players and families at the Hillsborough memorial service at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in 1989[LNB]Mr Cameron's official spokesman said that all of the Government's papers on the tragedy have already been handed over to the Panel.[LNB]The Prime Minister's spokesman said it was a matter for the panel to decide when to pass on the official documents to the Hillsborough families or to publish them more widely.[LNB]Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, a Sheffield MP, has called for the release of the files. He said: 'The truth is the best antidote to people's anger and suspicion, so we have got to get the truth out there.[LNB] Return of the King: Dalglish is Reds manager again and has expressed support for the Commons debate[LNB]'Weare saying as a government we will give over all of the Cabinet papers.Everything that is normally the subject of Freedom of Information requests. We give it over to the panel and they can then have discussions with the families.'[LNB]Mr Clegg has also backed the panel releasing the files to the victims' families ahead of a full release to the public, but the e-petition has called for no filtering.[LNB]Clegg told BBC Radio 5Live: 'All the Hillsborough papers will be made available by the government to the independent panel and the panel is completely free to release those papers as they want, when they want, to the public.'[LNB]'I think it's really important we let the panel show the information to the families first so the stuff doesn't come out in kind of dribs and drabs, which I don't think the families on the whole would welcome.[LNB]'In terms of the actual events leading up to what happened, debates and discussion within government, that has all got to be got out there by way of the panel.'[LNB]Mr Clegg also said that the government would not withhold the files to protect the police from criticism. He said: 'I think everybody accepts this is not the time for people to worry about the reputation of this or that institution.'[LNB]Kenny Dalglish was the Liverpool manager at the time of the disaster and returned to the post earlier this year. The Scot earlier this year expressed his delight at the prospect of the Commons debate, saying: 'It is fantastic news for the families. I think this isn't a political issue - it is a humanitarian one, so at least common sense has prevailed.'[LNB] Now prove it! FA to grill race row pair as Suarez denies Evra claimsI'm back! Gerrard pleased to put months of injury misery behind himGraham Poll: Why the FA may never get to bottom of the Evra-Suarez rowAll the latest Liverpool FC news, features and opinion [LNB]
