Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeLetter from the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to Tom Crone

On 19 October 2011 Julian Pike, a Partner at Farrer & Co, and Mark Lewis, a Partner at Taylor Hampton Solicitors, gave evidence to the Committee. Their evidence gave rise to further questions that the Committee would like you to answer in writing.

1. Julian Pike referred to a briefing note that you prepared for Colin Myler to use in a meeting with James Murdoch on 27 May 2008 (Q1151). If you still have a copy of that note, please could you submit it to the Committee.

2. Julian Pike referred to written advice that he supplied to you setting out his view that the “for Neville” e-mail meant that “there was a powerful case that there was evidence to support illegal accessing of information in order to obtain stories” (Qq 1197–1199). If you still have a copy of that note, please could you submit it to the Committee.

3. In the light of Julian Pike’s reference to your briefing note of 24 May 2008, the Committee invites you to reconsider the oral evidence you gave on 6 September, in which you implied that Mr Murdoch was first made aware of the “for Neville” e-mail and its significance on 10 June 2008 (Q 979: “That document was the reason that we decided to settle the case. We needed authority to do that, so we went to see Mr Murdoch and it was explained to him that this document had emerged and what it meant, and he gave us authority to settle”).

(a)Please explain to the Committee why you did not mention your briefing note to Colin Myler of 24 May 2008 and Colin Myler’s 27 May 2008 meeting with James Murdoch when you gave oral evidence on 6 September 2011.

4. Mark Lewis referred to a meeting you had with him in Manchester in March or April 2007 (Q 1237). Please provide the date and an account of that meeting.

5. Mark Lewis referred to a meeting you had with him over lunch in El Vino wine bar (Q 1244). Please provide the date and an account of that meeting.

I enclose a transcript of the evidence session on 19 October for your reference. The Committee has written in similar terms to Colin Myler.

I would be grateful if you could send your response to the Clerk of the Committee at the above address by no later than noon on Monday 31 October.

24 October 2011