Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Jonathan Chapman

My attention has been drawn to an article in today's Evening Standard headed “Lawyer set to challenge Murdoch's evidence”. I have no idea as to the provenance of this article, nor did I have anything whatsoever to do with it. Accordingly, I understand fully the frustration you refer to in your statement in the article.

My only public comment on these matters was in the form of a statement released through my lawyers last week to The Times and to the Wall Street Journal, in the following terms:

“There were a number of serious inaccuracies in statements made to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee yesterday concerning Mr. Chapman and his involvement in the issues under investigation. There have also been inaccuracies in the subsequent reporting of those proceedings. For example, there has been inaccurate reporting in certain media linking Mr. Chapman to decisions made in relation to litigation involving the News of the World, such as on settlement payments and payment of the defence costs of third parties. For the record, Mr. Chapman was responsible solely for corporate and commercial legal matters at News International and had no responsibility for any such decisions, nor did any editorial lawyers ever report to him. Mr. Chapman is considering these issues with his lawyers and has no further comment to make at this stage, save to confirm that he is willing fully to cooperate with the Select Committee in its investigations in order to ensure that the truth is established”.

As the statement indicates, I am currently taking advice on these matters from my lawyers, including, in particular, on the question of the ongoing investigation by the police. Subject to that, I would be delighted to cooperate fully with your Committee in its investigations.

26 July 2011