Tony Blair has said he "deeply regretted" the distress suffered by the family of a British soldier killed by American 'friendly fire' in Iraq because of delays to the inquest.

The Prime Minister said the Government would learn the lessons of the delay in completing Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull's inquest, which was caused by American refusal to supply the coroner with a crucial cockpit video.

Yesterday, the Pentagon finally agreed to declassify the chilling video, which showed the dialogue between two American pilots as they began their errant bombing attack on two Household Cavalry armoured Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles, believing they were Iraqi enemy forces. The coroner had said he could not complete the inquest without the tape, which he said provided essential evidence.

The case has prompted accusations of the MoD conspiring with the Americans in a cover-up of his death, which took place in Basra on March 28, 2003.

However, after being questioned by David Cameron, the Conservative Party leader, Mr Blair told Prime Minister's Questions that the MoD should in future work with the Department for Constitutional Affairs to release as quickly as possible all relevant information to military inquests.

"Yes, of course, I agree that that is what the MoD should do," he said.

"We deeply regret the distress caused to Lance Corporal Matty Hull's family by the delay in concluding the inquest into how he died.

"I can assure you that we will do everything we can to co-operate with the coroner and also make sure the additional distress, that's now been caused to the family, is minimised."

Mr Blair rebuffed questions from Mr Cameron that the MoD misled Lance Corporal Hull's family by reportedly indicating a cockpit video did not even exist.

"I do deeply regret any additional distress that has been caused to the family - but I do believe the MoD did act in good faith throughout and of course it is important they make sure information is given to the families of people concerned," he said.

Asked if the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Ministry of Defence would ensure procedures could be improved to prevent such a delay happening again, he said: "Of course, they should do that and will do it."

Following the Pentagon's declassification of the document Andrew Walker, the Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner, will now be in a position to complete the inquest into Lance Corporal Hull's death. It restarts on March 12.

The US and UK Governments' hands were forced by the decision of The Sun newspaper to publish details of the video in full yesterday when it was still classified, which threatened to cause a diplomatic incident between the two countries.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• The real-life adventures of Tintin the spy
• Our universities face a radical upheaval
• Doctor Who