James Murdoch: 'I have not misled parliament'

The culture, media and sport select committee has published a seven-page letter from James Murdoch in which he says he is sorry that "a full investigation into the facts" was not carried out by News International in response to the committee's 2010 report.

Earlier today the Financial Times reported that the letter had been sent to the committee by Murdoch, who is now deputy chief operating officer at News Corporation.

In the letter Murdoch continues to stand by his previous testimony that he "did not know about, nor did I try to hide wrongdoing".

But he added "with the benefit of hindsight" he does acknowledge "that it would have been better if I had asked more questions, requested more documents and scrutinised them carefully."

"It would have been better if I had not relied on the people who had assured me that thorough investigations had been carried out and that further investigations were unnecessary, and the statements made by the police to the same effect."

In reference to the select committee's own report into the allegations in 2010 in which it condemned "collective amnesia" at News International, Murdoch added: "Knowing what I know now I am sorry that the company did not conduct a full investigation into the facts in response to the committee's report."

In his letter Murdoch said that it has been "suggested" that the recent announcement that he would step down as chairman of News International "reflected past knowledge of voicemail interception or other alleged criminal wrongdoing at News International".

"This is untrue," he said.

He also made a "personal apology to those who had their privacy invaded".

In closing his letter Murdoch added that "it is important to note that I did not turn a blind eye".

"I did not know about, nor did I try to hide, wrongdoing. Whilst I accept my share of responsibility for not uncovering wrongdoing sooner, I did not mislead Parliament and the evidence does not support any other conclusion."

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