Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeLetter from the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to Rebekah Brooks, former CEO, News International

Thank you for your letter in response to a request for further information made to you on 29 July 2011.

In your letter you asked for an extension to the deadline for your response. The Committee discussed this matter at its meeting on 16 August and would be happy to give you more time to reply. I would, however, be grateful if you could have your response with the Committee by 12 noon on 12 September at the latest.

I would be grateful if by the same deadline you could provide a response to the additional matter detailed below.

In a letter to the Committee’s predecessor dated 4 November 2009 you referred to the settlement made with Clive Goodman by News Group Newspapers Limited. In your letter you state that:

“Pursuant to the agreement, Mr Goodman was paid his notice and an agreed amount representing a possible compensatory award at tribunal (which was some way below the then £60,600 limit on such awards). It should be noted that, as a matter of policy, News International companies tend always to pay notice, even in cases of summary dismissal (which is not unusual). As is normal under the terms of compromise agreements, Mr. Goodman’s legal costs relating to his employment claims and their settlement by compromise agreement were paid by News Group Newspapers Limited”.

In a letter to the Chairman dated 11 August, James Murdoch stated that:

“Mr Goodman was paid £90,502.08 in April 2007 and £153,000 (£13,000 of which was to pay for his legal fees) between October and December 2007” (PH 15, enclosed in this letter for your reference).

There is an obvious discrepancy between your statement that Mr Goodman’s settlement was “some way below the then £60,600 limit on such awards” and the amounts detailed in Mr Murdoch’s written evidence. I would be grateful if you could account for this discrepancy.

With many thanks for your continued cooperation.

16 August 2011