THE smokescreen that has covered events at the Deepcut army barracks gets thicker all the time.

Two years after Surrey Police announced that no-one would be prosecuted over the deaths of four young recruits - including Private Geoff Gray from County Durham - the force has now decided that it is an on-going investigation.

With the investigation suddenly brought back to life, the Freedom of Information Act cannot be used to enforce the release of a report into Surrey Police's handling of the mystery. How terribly convenient.

And three and a half years after the death of the fourth recruit, James Collinson, there is still no date for an inquest. Why not?

With so many questions over how the recruits died, and with the Army, police and Government apparently so unwilling to shed any light on what has gone on at Deepcut, is it any wonder the soldiers' parents are unable to grieve in peace?

The Freedom of Information Act is meant to cut through secrecy and blow away smokescreens. But if it is so easy to sidestep a legitimate demand for information on a matter of grave public concern, what credibility can it have?

How long will Surrey Police's investigation now be on-going? How long will it be before we get an inquest date? How long will it be before the parents get some answers?

The questions will not go away.