If the files are made public, the Hillsborough families say they are particularly keen to examine:

why the controversial 3.15pm cut-off time, which prohibited the emergency service response after that time being scrutinised, was decided upon;

who ordered the changing of up to 180 police statements;

who orchestrated the alleged “cover-up”;

the meeting headed by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher the day after Hillsborough, during which it is said instructions were given that “the police are not to be blamed.”

Mr Hicks told the Daily Post: "I think Andy Burnham is to be congratulated for delivering on this.

"Although we are slightly sceptical on the grounds of, 'why now?', this is as a result of the tremendous response at the anniversary service.

"At long last, the Government has finally realised that the only way to get closure is to come clean. It's like opening Pandora's Box – until you open it, you don't know what's there.

"We are not looking for anyone to be hanged, but if there is evidence that shows culpability we expect those people to be dealt with properly.

"This will not be a five-minute miracle, it will involve a lot of hard detective work.

"All we want is the truth, whatever the truth is. I lost Sarah and Vicki, and as a father I am perfectly entitled to know the full facts related to their death and what happened afterwards.

"This could take weeks, months or even years, but we've been waiting for 20 years so what's a little bit longer?"

At the 20th memorial service on Wednesday, Liverpool-born Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham, was heckled as he spoke in front of the Kop.

He was forced to halt his address for 30 seconds as chants of “Justice for the 96” rained down in yet another powerful plea to the government.

The MP later said he entirely understood the sentiments of the Liverpool families unhappy that accountability still had not been achieved.

A statement released by Jacqui Smith said: "The government is committed to helping those who lost loved ones in the Hillsborough tragedy. That is why I will be working with colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Attorney General’s Office to put out any information that exists that could shed light on the disaster and its aftermath in the public domain as soon as possible.”