Hinton: 'I was not involved in internal hacking inquiries'

Les Hinton revealed today that he was not personally involved in either of the internal investigations conducted into phone hacking during the time he was chief executive of the company.

In a faltering appearance before the culture, media and sport select committee this afternoon, via video link from New York, Hinton repeatedly told MPs that he could not remember relevant events or had no information about them in the first place.

Members of the cross-party committee were surprised to hear Hinton claim that he had not spoken to representatives from law firm Burton Copland, which conducted the initial internal inquiry into phone-hacking claims, or to lawyers from Harbottle & Lewis, which conducted an investigation following allegations made by Clive Goodman in the course of his unfair dismissal claim.

Conservative MP Damian Collins put it to Hinton that "for someone who had worked for a news company for 50 years" he "did not have a very enquiring mind".

"I didn't think I was less enquiring that I needed to be at the time," Hinton replied.

During a session devoid of any significant new revelations – committee chairman John Whittingdale was picked up on his microphone afterwards saying that the session was "interesting" but that there was "no bombshell there" – Hinton repeatedly told MPs that he could not remember the events he was asked about.

Pressed by Labour MP Tom Watson, Hinton, who has appeared twice before the committee previously, said that Watson's questions related to events "which happened five or so years ago".

"Forgive me, but I'm being straight forward with you," Hinton said.

The former News International chief also repeatedly said he "looked forward" to a time at which he could answer some of the questions regarding procedures at News International.

"I am unclear on what it is that happened. It really isn't something I can properly answer. I really look forward to the day I can.

Watson pointed out to Hinton during his questioning that he had said "I can't remember" seven times so far in the session, compared with 32 times in total in his previous appearance.

Hinton caused laughter by responding: "We have a while to go yet Mr Watson."

The former News International man did reveal that he has not been approached by Viet Dinh, a non-executive director and former assistant attorney general to President George W Bush who is overseeing News Corp's current investigation into criminality in the company.

Hinton also said that he had not been questioned by the Metropolitan police at any stage, despite his successor Rebekah Brooks and former News of the World editor Andy Coulson having been arrested.

When asked by Watson about his severance arrangement with News Corp – a controversial issue with Andy Coulson, who retained the use of a company car and healthcare after being employed by the Conservative Party – Hinton said that he no longer had the use of a company car or office space, and claimed that he was "no longer associated with the company in any way".

He said that he had received a severance arrangement with the company, but said that a confidentiality agreement prevented him from disclosing the details.

Asked by Labour MP Paul Farrelly whether he believed some of the answers given to the select committee by News Corporation staff must have included untruths, Hinton acknowledged that "some of the answers given were not accurate" but added "whether you could call them untruthful I don't know."

Asked whether James Murdoch should resign on account of having overall responsibility as chairman of News International while phone hacking was taking place, Hinton replied emphatically that he saw no reason why Rupert Murdoch's son should go.

At the end of the session, Watson was pulled up by Whittingdale as he attempted to press Hinton over his knowledge of alleged payments to corrupt police officers. Whittingdale warned Watson that was straying into areas covered by an ongoing police investigation.

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