Coulson To Be Questioned Over Phone-Hacking Claims

The police are to question Downing Street communications director and former News of the World editor Andy Coulson over phone-hacking allegations.

Speaking to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Assistant Commissioner John Yates from Scotland Yard said that they would need to speak to Mr Coulson.

On Monday, Mr Coulson said that he would be happy to meet the Metropolitan police to discuss the allegations.

The move follows claims by former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare that he had been told by Mr Coulson to intercept phone messages.

Former journalists, including Mr Hoare, also told the New York Times that the practice of hacking into phones was fare more extensive than had been previously acknowledged.

In 2007, the News of the World's royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for intercepting phone messages, but a Commons Culture Committee found no evidence that Mr Coulson approved the phone-hacking or was even aware of its existence.

Mr Coulson has firmly denied using or condoning the practice while he was editor of the paper. He resigned from his post during the original investigation into illegal phone tapping.

Labour MPs have called for the investigation to be re-opened.

(KMcA/GK)