This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8160433.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Coulson 'didn't condone hacking' Coulson 'didn't condone hacking'
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative communications chief Andy Coulson has told MPs he did not "condone or use" phone hacking when he was editor of the News of the World.Conservative communications chief Andy Coulson has told MPs he did not "condone or use" phone hacking when he was editor of the News of the World.
Mr Coulson quit as the editor after a reporter was jailed for hacking.Mr Coulson quit as the editor after a reporter was jailed for hacking.
Although he said he had not known about it, he told the culture committee he regretted things going "badly wrong" and had taken responsibility by going.Although he said he had not known about it, he told the culture committee he regretted things going "badly wrong" and had taken responsibility by going.
The hearing began with the paper's lawyer saying Labour MP Tom Watson should not be allowed to question them.The hearing began with the paper's lawyer saying Labour MP Tom Watson should not be allowed to question them.
The legal chief threatened to complain to the Parliamentary authorities if Mr Watson, who is involved in a legal case with News International, took part in the questioning. News International legal chief Tom Crone threatened to complain to the Parliamentary authorities if Tom Watson, who is involved in legal action with the News of the World's sister paper The Sun, accused the firm of "attempting to interfere with the work of the committee".
Mr Watson, whose legal action is with the News of the World's sister paper The Sun, accused the firm of "attempting to interfere with the work of the committee". My instructions to the staff were clear - we did not use subterfuge of any kind unless there was a clear public interest in doing so Andy CoulsonEx-News of the World class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8160897.stm">Lawyer clashes with MP
Hacking allegations But the chairman of the Commons committee, John Whittingdale, said he had received advice from the Speaker's counsel was that it did not interfere with the ex-Labour minister's ability to take part in the inquiry.
Committee chairman, Tory MP John Whittingdale, said advice from the Speaker's counsel was that it did not interfere with his ability to take part in the inquiry. The hearing is the first time Mr Coulson, who was News of the World editor from 2003 to 2007, has been questioned about people's mobile phone voicemail being hacked into.
He said he had given his reporters the freedom to do their job but "my instructions to the staff were clear - we did not use subterfuge of any kind unless there was a clear public interest in doing so. They were to work within the PCC code at all times".
Mr Coulson said his staff attended Press Complaints Commission seminars and were given regular refreshers with company lawyers.
He went on: "I gave the reporters freedom as professional journalists to make their own judgments and I also gave them plenty of resources.
"We spent money in pursuit of stories at the News of the World, more money than most newspapers, and I make no secret of the fact."
'Surprise and anger'
He said he had not "micro-manged" every payment but he accepted controls at the newspaper could have been tighter during his time as editor.
"I accept that the system was not perfect and I took ultimate responsibility for it," he told the MPs.
He said he reacted to the news of Royal reporter Clive Goodman's arrest with "surprise and anger".
But he added: "If a rogue reporter decides to behave in that fashion, I am not sure there is an awful lot more I could have done."
He said stories about phone hacking had been "in the ether" during his 20 year career as a journalist but he had never been involved in such activities.
He also said he had not commissioned and had no knowledge of any story about Gordon Taylor, head of the Professional Footballers' Association, who received a £700,000 out-of-court payment from News International over phone tapping allegations.
He said he had first learned about the Taylor litigation "when I read about in The Guardian".
'Judge and jury'
News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner, who is giving evidence alongside Mr Coulson, objected to the presence of Conservative MP Philip Davies, on the committee.
He said the MP had no right to question to him as he had made comments about his retirement from News International in a newspaper story.
"I am concerned that Mr Davies is acting as judge and jury and has already made up his mind as to the reliability of anything I say," he told the committee.
But his concerns were dismissed by the committee chairman, who pointed out that the committee was not a court of law.
Mr Whittingdale began by saying he had stood aside as a member of the Conservative Party board, which is the employer of ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson, during the committee's investigation.Mr Whittingdale began by saying he had stood aside as a member of the Conservative Party board, which is the employer of ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson, during the committee's investigation.
News International lawyer Tom Crone and News of the World editor Colin Myler, who also gave evidence before Mr Coulson's grillign began, confirmed News International had made a payment to Gordon Taylor, head of the Professional Footballers' Association, and two others, which was the basis of The Guardian's phone hacking allegations. Hacking allegations
Tom Crone: 'It seems to us quite impromper that Mr Watson is sitting on this panel' Before Mr Coulson began giving evidence News International lawyer Tom Crone and current News of the World editor Colin Myler confirmed News International had made a payment to Gordon Taylor and two other people, which was the basis of The Guardian's phone hacking allegations.
The Guardian has also claimed up to 3,000 public figures had their phones hacked in an attempt to obtain stories.The Guardian has also claimed up to 3,000 public figures had their phones hacked in an attempt to obtain stories.
But Mr Myler reacted angrily to his staff being accused of what he called "systematic illegality", asking the committee: "Where is the evidence?" Mr Myler reacted angrily to his staff being accused of what he called "systematic illegality", asking the committee: "Where is the evidence?"
Tom Crone: 'It seems to us quite impromper that Mr Watson is sitting on this panel'
He said rigorous new safeguards had been put in place, following the Goodman case, to make sure that such practices did not happen again.
"We've also put in place a series of measures to guard against the situation arising again in the News of the World.
"These include the introduction of strict protocols on cash payments, and on the level of justification, authorisation and auditing of cash payments.
"Since I took over as editor, cash payments for stories and tip-offs have been reduced by between eighty-two and eighty-nine percent."
News of the World royal reporter Clive Goodman was jailed two years ago after pleading guilty to hacking into the phone messages of royal staff. Private investigator Glen Mulcaire was also jailed.News of the World royal reporter Clive Goodman was jailed two years ago after pleading guilty to hacking into the phone messages of royal staff. Private investigator Glen Mulcaire was also jailed.
Mr Coulson, who was editor of the News of the World between 2003 and 2007, resigned but he denied being aware of what was going on in the Goodman case.
He said he resigned because he bore "ultimate responsibility" for what happened "on his watch".
Last week the Guardian claimed the practice was much more widespread, affecting "thousands" of celebrities and politicians.