Business, Innovation and Skills

Lord Vaizey of Didcot Excerpts

Thursday 27th January 2011 Ministerial Corrections

[Mr Watson]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2010, Official Report, column 367W, on News International, whether (a) he and (b) the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries discussed with (i) James Murdoch and (ii) Rebekah Brooks (A) the Metropolitan Police's investigation on telephone hacking and blagging and (B) News Corporation's bid for BSkyB; and if he will make a statement.

[Official Report, 16 November 2010, Vol. 518, c. 747W.]

Letter of correction from Mr Edward Vaizey:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 16 November 2010. The short introductory telephone conversation with Mr James Murdoch took place on 15 June, not 15 July as stated in the reply.

The full answer given was as follows:

[Mr Vaizey]

[holding answer 4 November 2010]: The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills had a short introductory telephone conversation with James Murdoch on 15 July during which the News Corporation bid for BSkyB was raised. They did not discuss the Metropolitan police's investigation on telephone hacking.

In my role as a joint BIS/DCMS Minister, I met Rebekah Brooks on 12 July. During this meeting neither News Corporation's bid for BSkyB, nor the Metropolitan police's investigation on telephone hacking were discussed.

The correct answer should have been:

[Mr Vaizey]

[holding answer 4 November 2010]: The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills had a short introductory telephone conversation with James Murdoch on 15 June during which the News Corporation bid for BSkyB was raised. They did not discuss the Metropolitan police's investigation on telephone hacking.

In my role as a joint BIS/DCMS Minister, I met Rebekah Brooks on 12 July. During this meeting neither News Corporation's bid for BSkyB, nor the Metropolitan police's investigation on telephone hacking were discussed.