Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeLetter from the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee to Colin Myler

On 10 November 2011 James Murdoch gave evidence to the Committee. His evidence gave rise to further questions that the Committee would like you to answer in writing.

1. James Murdoch said that, at the time of the Gordon Taylor settlement, Tom Crone was only authorised to settle cases up to £10,000 [Q1582] and that you were authorised to sign-off payments up to £50,000 [Q1597]. Mr Murdoch said that it appears that Mr Crone “took it upon himself” to authorise the Taylor settlement at £50,000 and raise it to £150,000 and subsequently to £350,000 without Mr Murdoch’s knowledge or without the proper authority to do so [Q1583]. Mr Murdoch also said that “presumably [Mr Crone], Mr Myler and Mr Pike had discussed [the settlement] but did not come to me until 10 June” [Q1584].

(a)Were you involved in any discussions about increasing the Taylor settlement above £50,000 before James Murdoch was informed? If so, with whom?

(b)Whose decision was it to increase the settlement offer to £150,000?

(c)On whose authority was the settlement offer increased to £150,000?

2. When Mr Crone gave evidence to the Committee on 6 September 2011 he said that he had never commissioned private investigators to order surveillance [Q883]. On 10 November James Murdoch said “Mr Crone and another News of the World employee at the time did engage certain private investigators [...] to surveil plaintiff's lawyers” [Q1652]. There have subsequently been reports that all Members serving on the Committee in 2009 were put under surveillance by News of the World journalists and by private investigators commissioned by the News of the World.

(a)As Editor of the News of the World what knowledge did you have of the commissioning of private investigators and News of the World journalists to conduct surveillance on members of the Committee or lawyers involved in phone-hacking cases?

3. James Murdoch said that he thought your evidence and that of Tom Crone to the Committee was misleading and he refuted it [Q1508]. Would you like to change anything or add anything to the evidence that you have already given to the Committee?

The transcript of the evidence session on 10 November is enclosed for your convenience. It is also on the Committee's website along with transcripts of all previous evidence sessions and all of the written evidence that we have received. The Committee has written in similar terms to Tom Crone.

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 28 November.

16 November 2011