This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36456245

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sport Direct boss will go before MPs Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley 'will go before MPs'
(35 minutes later)
Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley says he will now go before MPs to defend the firm's "good name".Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley says he will now go before MPs to defend the firm's "good name".
Mr Ashley has agreed to appear before the business, innovation and skills select committee to answer questions over working conditions at the company on Tuesday. Mr Ashley has agreed to appear before the business, innovation and skills select committee (BIS) on Tuesday to answer questions on working conditions.
He has been refusing to appear before the committee since March.He has been refusing to appear before the committee since March.
Last week, he said he would not be there because his lawyer, Richard Gordon QC, was unavailable. Committee chair Iain Wright said he looked forward to Mr Ashley answering questions and responding to the "serious allegations".
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. Mr Ashley changed his mind last month and said he would answer questions if MPs visited the firm's Shirebrook warehouse in Derbyshire.
If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. However, last week he changed his position again, stating he would not attend because his lawyer Richard Gordon QC, was unavailable.
Would Mike Ashley have been jailed in Big Ben?
Sports Direct has been criticised for working conditions at the warehouse, including employing staff on zero-hour contracts.
In a letter to Iain Wright, chairman of the BIS committee, Mr Ashley takes issue with the MP's suggestion last week that he had "something to hide". He writes: "I can assure you that nothing is further from the truth."
'Open and honest'
Failure to appear in front of MPs meant Mr Ashley risked being found in contempt of Parliament.
In letter, Mr Ashley writes: "After much reflection over the last 48 hours, I have concluded that a lengthy legal battle would be of no benefit to either of us.
"It would no doubt lead to further unwarranted accusations that I am being secretive, whereas in fact I have been open and honest at every stage of this process."
Mr Ashley added that he would now appear "in order to defend the good name of Sports Direct on behalf of all the great people who work here".
Committee chair Mr Wright said he was pleased that Mr Ashley "has finally agreed to give evidence at our hearing".
He looked forward to Mr Ashley "answering our questions, including in response to these allegations", and telling MPs about the progress of a review the Sports Direct boss announced following the allegations.
"As a Committee, we want to get a sense of the genuine and balanced picture at Sports Direct and establish whether there are issues for the wider economy which need further examination, such as the status and rights of agency workers," he said.