Tom Crone

Former News International legal manager Tom Crone, who will reappear before the culture media sport select committee this afternoon

Credit: PA

Four former News International executives are to appear before the culture, media and sport select committee this morning to give evidence in its phone hacking investigation.

Jonathan Chapman, News International's former director of legal affairs, and Daniel Cloke, the company's former group HR director, will appear first at 10.30am.

They will be followed by Colin Myler, who was editor of the News of the World when it was closed by News International, and Tom Crone, former legal manager for News Group Newspapers.

Crone left the company in July, although a spokesman for News International said at the time it was unable to confirm whether he resigned or was sacked.

He was responsible for News International's internal report in 2007 into phone hacking, later reporting to MPs that the practice did not go beyond the actions of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and royal editor Clive Goodman, who were jailed for voicemail interception in 2007.

Following the appearance of News Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch and his son and chairman of News International James Murdoch before the committee in July, Crone and Myler issued a joint statement seeking to "clarify" a significant piece of evidence given.

In the committee session, MP Tom Watson asked James Murdoch if, when he signed off a settlement payment to Gordon Taylor, he had seen or was made aware of an email "suggesting hacking was more widespread than had been admitted". James Murdoch replied no, "I was not aware of that at the time".

But in their statement, Myler and Crone claim his recollection of what he was told "was mistaken".

Following Myler and Crone's statement, Murdoch responded to say he stood behind his testimony to the committee.

Culture committee chair John Whittingdale said at the time it would be asking Murdoch to respond further and would seek more evidence from Myler and Crone.
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