Claims that police tried to smear murder victim Stephen Lawrence's family will be investigated by two ongoing inquiries, Theresa May has said.
The home secretary also told MPs there should be a "ruthless" purging of corruption from police ranks.
It comes after undercover officer Peter Francis said he was instructed in 1993 to find information that could discredit the Lawrence family.
Stephen's father, Neville, said "only a judge-led public inquiry will suffice". 'Unspeakable tragedy'
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said there needed to be a "specific independent investigation into these allegations" and a "clear timetable of getting to the truth".
Scotland Yard has refused to confirm or deny the claims made in the Guardian newspaper by Mr Francis.
Prime Minister David Cameron said earlier he wanted to "get the full truth out" about "horrific" allegations and called for an immediate investigation.
Mrs May told the Commons that the latest allegations would be looked into by Mark Ellison QC and also as part of Operation Herne, which is an investigation into undercover policing at the Metropolitan Police.
She said the Lawrence family had "experienced an unspeakable tragedy".
She continued: "Their pain was compounded by the many years in which justice was not done and these allegations still coming 20 years after Stephen's murder only add to their suffering."
Any investigations should be "ruthless in purging" corruption and wrongdoing from police ranks, Mrs May said.
Neville Lawrence said the latest news had taken away the faith he had started to build in the police.
"It is unthinkable that in the extremely dark days and months after my son's murder that my family were subject to such scrutiny," he said in a statement.
"I understand that the Home Secretary has announced that she will extend the inquiries of Mark Ellison QC and Operation Hearn, I would like to make it clear that I find this completely unsatisfactory.
He added: " I have no confidence that the measures announced today will get to the bottom of this matter."
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