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Mr Miliband asks what steps the PM will take to preserve documents at Downing Street which might help the judge-led inquiry.
Labour leader Ed Miliband opens his response to the PM's statement by saying progress must be made on an "agreed basis".
The PM says he will require all ministers and civil servants to record meetings with senior editors and media executives. This is a "first for our country" and help make the UK government "one of the most open in the world."
All aspects of police relationships with the media must be beyond reproach, Mr Cameron says. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking at allegations of payments to officers, he informs the House.
News International must focus on "getting its house in order", the PM says. Those found to have done wrong must have no role in running a media company in future, he tells MPs.
David Cameron emphasises that the judge-led inquiry will have the power to summon newspaper proprietors so even if Rupert Murdoch turns down an invitation to attend next week's culture and media select committee he may have to attend this inquiry.
Mr Cameron says "serious questions" must be asked about News International's proposed takeover of BSkyB.
The issue of cross-media ownership will be address by the inquiry, the PM announces.
Mr Cameron says reviews of wrongdoing and press regulation must take place - under the umbrella of a single inquiry. It will be led by Lord Justice Leveson and given the power to call witnesses including media proprietors.
The PM says police are looking at alleged incidents of hacking and other offences affecting 3,870. They have made eight arrests.
Mr Cameron says the current police investigation into hacking is fully resourced.
Mr Cameron says all MPs want to sort the current situation out.
That's it for PMQs - now on to Mr Cameron's statement on phone hacking and media standards.
A startling admission from the PM - or it would have been two weeks ago before the latest hacking revelations - on the relationship between politicians and the media: "Your bins are are gone through by some media organisations but you hold back from dealing with it because you want good relations with the media."
A Labour MP urges the PM to deal with "rip-offs" by debt firms. He says he will look at the issue.
Conservative James Clappison says the UK should not pay for any future EU bailout. Mr Cameron says the country is a "safe haven" from problems, but the UK must be helpful, as it is "in our own interests".
Tory Stephen Mosley calls for the Crewe to Chester line to be electrified. Mr Cameron recalls spending a lot of time at Crewe station at last year's election "accompanied people in top hat and tails". He says it is not on the current programme but the government wants more electrification.
Just as well there is parliamentary privilege - from leading Conservative backbencher Graham Stuart, a very forceful focus on Labour's past links to News International
Labour's Geoffrey Robinson is heckled as he asks a rather long question on the decision to award the Thameslink contract to a foreign firm. Mr Cameron says the procurement procedures were set by the previous government.
Speaker John Bercow is rather hoarse as he announces Lib Dem Malcom Bruce is to ask a question - possibly a result of his earlier attempts to keep MPs quiet. Mr Bruce asks the PM about extending sign language support to families of children with hearing difficulties. He agrees to look into it.
Tory Graham Stuart says News International used "blagging" to get details of party donor Lord Ashcroft's bank account - as alleged in the then Tory Treasurer's book Dirty Politics, Dirty Times. Mr Cameron says the inquiries will get to the bottom of such issues.
Lord Ashdown did warn David Cameron's staff that the Prime Minister could suffer "great reputational damage" by taking Andy Coulson into Downing St but he did not speak directly to Mr Cameron himself, though he assumed the message had been passed on.
The PM says there is a huge amount of back-office cost to be cut at the Ministry of Defence and that this is happening.
tweets: Tom Watson impressively measured as he speaks. The rowdy mob is immediately silenced. #pmqs
Tory David Burrowes asks about the US's desire to extradite alleged computer hacker Gary McKinnon. Mr Cameron says the issue must be dealt with judiciously by Home Secretary Theresa May.
Labour's Rushanara Ali asks about Andy Coulson. Mr Cameron repeats that he was given assurances and that, if they were untrue, Mr Coulson should face prosecution.
Labour's Tom Watson rises to loud cheers from his colleagues. He urges the PM to see whether families of victims of the 9/11 were "targeted by News International criminals". Mr Cameron says he will do so and that he will reveal details of alleged UK phone hacking in his statement, due at 1230 BST.
tweets: Miliband should stop going on about Coulson, we don't want Cameron to apologise a million times, concentrate on sorting out the mess #PMQs
tweets: I'm no expert but surely Miliband going on about Coulson working for the PM does nothing to address/fix the bigger hacking issues. #pmqs
Responding to a question from Tory Andrew Percy, Mr Cameron says it is important to deal with metal theft.
Labour's Mar Glindon asks about Mr Coulson's employment by Mr Cameron. The PM says he chose to accept the assurances he received from Mr Coulson and police. It is important to treat people as innocent until prove guilty, he adds.
The allegation against Ed Miliband's press secretary Tom Baldwin is that he handled information illegally acquired by a private investigator while looking into Conservative peer Lord Ashcroft's finances, when he was a Times journalist. Labour deny the allegations while News International say Mr Baldwin would not have been authorised to engage a private investigator when on their staff.
Tory Matthew Hancock, a former adviser to Chancellor George Osborne, asks the PM what he's doing to keep the UK out of the eurozone. Mr Cameron says eurozone countries must act faster to deal with crises.
Ed Miliband went for the jugular by not just attacking Andy Coulson but the chief of staff Ed Llewellyn - there have been murmurs on the Conservative backbenches that the PM has not been handling this well but it is possible the Labour leader's partisan tone will give them an excuse to rally round Mr Cameron.
That was Mr Miliband's final questioning of the prime minster until September, when MPs return from their summer recess.
To be clear - the Labour leader said the "fullest account" of information given to him before he hired Andy Coulson must be published. The PM said the public wants politicians to sort out "this firestorm". He added that the failed police investigation was during Labour's time in power and that he is providing leadership.
Speaker Bercow is shouting himself hoarse after a hot-tempered exchange between Ed Miliband and David Cameron over Andy Coulson. He threatens to expel Children's Minister Tim Loughton.
The Tory benches erupt as Mr Cameron speaks. Commons Speaker John Bercow quells the uproar.
Again Ed Milinand tries to highlight divisions - especially on what he regards as the PM's Achilles heel, Andy Coulson. This is the first time that David Cameron has said the Guardian's warnings about the former tabloid editor were not passed on to him.
Mr Cameron is asked about his hiring of ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson as his communications chief. He says that, if evidence he has given to police proves incorrect, and that if it is found he committed illegal behaviour, he "should be prosecuted".
Ed Miliband wants to stay on the front foot with new demands on the PM - this time over compelling politicians to testify on oath
tweets: It is nice to see the Prime Minister agreeing on Brooks. Always good to see cross-party agreement on issues. #PMQs
Politicians and media must be "more transparent" about their meetings, Mr Cameron says, adding that he will say more during his statement following Prime Minister's Questions.
Mr Miliband asks about the relationship between politics and the press. The PM says the main party leaders had an "excellent" meeting last night and would "move ahead in a way that takes the whole country with us".
Ed Miliband has decided to highlight divisions rather than stress consensus - quizzing David Cameron on Rebekah Brooks, whom the PM knows socially, and taunts Mr Cameron over his decision not to speak in the forthcoming debate.
Ed Miliband says it is "quite wrong" for News Corp to expand its UK media stake. The PM responds that the law will be followed, but that the Commons should send a message to the company that it must "clean its stables".
Mr Cameron also repeats his call for Rebekah Brooks to quit as News International chief executive - saying her resignation offer should have been accepted.
Ed Miliband says it is an "insult" to Milly Dowler's family that Rebekah Brooks is still in her job. Mr Cameron replies that separating what happened at News International and the BSkyB takeover is not possible. "They should stop worrying about mergers and sort out the mess they have created," says the PM.
David Cameron is on his feet. Lib Dem Duncan Hames asks about the allegations against News Corp. He asks if they are the actions of a "fit and proper person" - referring to the test that News Corp's proposed takeover of BSkyB. The PM says those who did wrong must be prosecuted.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson says that, in future, meetings between political leaders and media executives will have to be revealed in public.
David Cameron is in his seat. The noise level is high - as is anticipation.
texts: Cameron not speaking this afternoon is disrespectful to the country.
The Commons chamber is louder than normal this far ahead of Prime Minister's Questions. Speaker John Bercow tells MPs to pipe down, as shadow international development secretary pays tribute to the generosity of the British people in helping the people of eastern Africa.
Labour's Margaret Beckett says only a few "rotten apples" among the police have taken payment for information, but adds that critics will be able to "throw" allegations at decent officers following recent revelations.
tweets: Sky News keeps going on about public anger over the #notw phone hacking,i'm a member of the public and I'm not angry,wasn't even a surprise
Ahead of the weekly showdown between David Cameron and Ed Miliband, MPs are discussing aid to the developing world. International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell says the UK is right to carry on its programme in India. The Commons is about two-thirds full.
writes: The politicians cannot stop the takeover going through and they know it and so does Murdoch and his legal team. The competition commission will not stop the deal going through because there is no legal basis and anything else will see them get annihilated in the courts. Time to face facts - This deal will go through whether we like it or not.
Mrs Beckett adds that Labour leader Ed Miliband has been "very bold" in his efforts to push for an inquiry into hacking. But Conservative Philip Hammond replies that politicians of all parties were "too close" to the Murdoch empire in the past.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond tells BBC Two's Daily Politics he suspects the Labour motion on BSkyB will go through without the need for a vote. Labour's Margaret Beckett adds that no MP is likely to shout "No" when the proposition is put before the House, which would be necessary to force a vote.
From BBC Monitoring: Liu Zefan, in Shanghai's Dongfang Zaobao, writes: "It will be a tragedy if the phone hacking scandal last week quickly dissipates or just brings minor changes in the conduct of media professionals. But it will also be a tragedy if the media are oppressed and 'hijacked' into only serving the elite."
writes: So we have a totally united House of Commons. Fantastic! Let's hope that all parties now fully realise that it is the will of the people that they are elected to represent, that democracy is about making change for the good of the majority, not furthering individual political careers.
As we prepare for Prime Minister's Questions, just a note to say that BBC political correspondent Iain Watson will be in the Commons, giving details of the goings on in the chamber. And, courtesy of BBC Two's Daily Politics, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and Labour's former Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett will provide their view.
With just under 40 minutes to go until prime minister's questions, Ed Miliband's team will be finalising the Labour leader's tactics. Is there a chance he will attack the prime minister on his likely non-attendance at the BSkyB debate? Or is it possible he will leave the News Corp issues alone at PMQs and go for something else? Perhaps the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in eastern Africa? Or maybe the state of the economy? It is Mr Miliband's last chance to ask a direct question of the PM before the summer recess, so he will want to get the tone right.
Downing Street says that, if there is a vote on the BSkyB motion, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt - who is overseeing the proposed takeover of the firm by News Corp - will not take part.
Downing Street confirms that Commons leader Sir George Young - and not David Cameron - will lead the government's response during the debate on BSkyB. The prime minister's spokesman said it did not make sense for Mr Cameron to speak twice on the issue. The PM will make a statement on the phone hacking inquiries at 1230 BST. The debate is scheduled for later in the afternoon.
Channel 4 News' Jon Snow says this is the first time in his working lifetime that an opposition party put down a motion which the government of the day decides to endorse. The Guardian's Julian Glover says David Cameron has been dragged into supporting the motion and will have to work out what is legally safe to do. Read more commentators' views in the BBC's Daily View.
Rupert Murdoch has arrived at News International's Wapping HQ, in east London, where he is masterminding the firm's response to the allegations being made against it.
tweets: So is Vince going to speak in the #hacking debate? And can one get away with repeating "told you so" in the house?
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust has released a statement regarding Gordon Brown's claims about the Sun newspaper. It says: "The release of any medical information to the media or anyone else is a decision for patients or, in the case of children, their parents to make. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust does not condone the release or publication of such information, without express permission, regardless of their motivation." Mr Brown alleges that the newspaper accessed his family medical records without his knowledge, later reporting that his son Fraser had cystic fibrosis. But the Sun says the information came from a member of the public.
emails: David Cameron has to take part in the BSkyB debate. His sudden change of mind and absence from the Commons for this extremely important debate raises questions about his commitment and competence at dealing with this scandalous situation. Is he afraid of Ed Milliband or just afraid of Rupert Murdoch? Either way, it won't do.
emails: Comments that this is a witch hunt to get Murdoch are a further illustration of how low this thing has got. This is not a witch hunt but simply our representatives in parliament whom we put there, asserting the power of parliament and democracy. It is not ideal but it is a whole sight better than a media oligarch stamping all over everyone's privacy and corrupting politics in this country. Any re-allignment of media in this country would do well to begin with making it illegal for anyone to own newspapers in a country in which they do not reside or pay taxes.
tweets: No 10 says PM just doesn't have time to do hacking debate after his hacking statement as well and statement could be quite chunky
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says that Charles Kennedy's amendment is an attempt to force a vote in Parliament on the BSkyB motion, which otherwise may have gone through "on the nod".
Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy has proposed an amendment to the motion on BSkyB to be debated by MPs. It calls for "a statutory settlement for the press based upon the principles of diversity of ownership, fairness and honesty".
emails: I think that media ethics bridge is only punishable by the media professional guilds. Let News of the World be tried for intrusion into privacy and personal space, but let the profession decide its fate on the issue of neglect of the ethical news value of dignity.
comments: This is nothing but a witch-hunt over Murdoch. There is no real issue as to why he shouldn't own BSkyB apart from the fact that journalists use underhand tactics to get stories. Always have, always will. How this relates to the owner or whether he should be allowed ownership of a company is beyond me.
Tom Watson says he thinks Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks are unlikely to attend the culture, media and sport select committee hearing to which they have been summoned. He tells the BBC that the committee is likely to "empty chair" them if this is the case. In other words, they will wait for the trio to show up and call a halt to proceedings if they do not appear. Mr Watson says they are not interested in grilling any other News International executives.
The BBC should "take a look at itself" over its previous coverage of the phone hacking scandal, Labour MP Tom Watson says. The organisation was "slightly intimidated" by News International while the previous MPs' inquiry was going on, he adds.
Labour MP Tom Watson says the events of the last week have been a "huge wake-up call" for politicians. It's "brilliant" to see the three main party leaders coming to an agreement to back the Commons motion on BSkyB, he tells the BBC News Channel.
In Australia, Rupert Murdoch's News Limited firm is conducting a "thorough review" of all editorial expenditures over the past three years. However, chief executive John Hartigan says he has "absolutely no reason to suspect any wrongdoing".
tweets: But is that just Murdoch hacking? Suspect it's universal. Never been a better time to change those security settings.
Former Metropolitan Police officer Andy Hayman has accused MPs of a "lynch mob mentality" after he was questioned by the Commons home affairs committee on Tuesday. The ex-assistant commissioner - who was in charge of the first phone hacking investigation - was accused by committee members of being "a dodgy geezer" and "like Clouseau rather than Columbo". Mr Hayman told Nick Ferrari on London radio station LBC: "I've been through the mill several times in court, in journalistic interviews. I've never been treated like yesterday."
Work and pensions minister Chris Grayling tells Sky News the alleged behaviour by parts of the press has been "clearly unacceptable" and that the inquiries to be set up by the government must ensure "it never happens again".
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg reports that David Cameron will not attend the BSkyB debate in the Commons. Labour sources said this showed the prime minister was "on the run". Mr Cameron will be giving a statement on the forthcoming inquiry into hacking and media standards straight after Prime Minister's Questions, though. He is also meeting the family of murdered teenager Milly Dowler today.
tweets: Caught up with some tabloid journos yesterday. Very stressful times. Sad that decent journos caught in crossfire
The full wording of the Labour motion to be debated by MPs later is: "That this House believes that it is in the public interest for Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation to withdraw their bid for BSkyB." The debate is scheduled to end by 1900 BST and is expected to get going some time around 1600 BST.
Will former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has alleged his privacy was breached by News International, speak during the Labour-led debate on News Corp's proposed takeover of BSkyB?
tweets: #notw Political parties are more united than at any time since the war. Can London withstand the invasion by an old man and his personal trainer?
Labour MP Tom Watson, one of the main political foes of News Corp, is on the list to ask a question of David Cameron in the House of Commons shortly after midday. It could be lively.
Sir Hugh Orde also revealed that, while a chief constable himself, he had sacked officers who divulged too much information to outsiders, adding that those wrongdoers had "not even" been paid by their accomplices.
Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, was on BBC Radio 4's Today programme earlier. Addressing allegations of police corruption, he said there were "no circumstances" in which any officer should accept payments.
In the US, Senator John Rockerfeller, chairman of the committee on commerce, science and transportation, is calling for an investigation into News Corp's activities there. He said the News of the World scandal raised "serious questions" over whether any laws had been broken in the US.
Laura Kuenssberg says it is "unprecedented" that the government is backing a motion - on the BSkyB takeover - put forward by the opposition. She adds that David Cameron is looking at the debate as an opportunity to "come out fighting".
BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg says the debate on the BSkyB takeover, put forward by Labour, is "testament to how serious" the whole issue of press behaviour has become.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage on the ongoing phone hacking scandal. It's going to be a busy day, with the focus very much on politicians. David Cameron will give MPs a statement on the issue, after what looks set to be another turbulent prime minister's questions - the last before Parliament's summer recess. There will also be a full debate later in the afternoon on News Corporation's bid for a full takeover of BSkyB. We'll be here all day, covering the latest developments and reaction
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
BBC News - PM questions 2011-07-13
via bbc.co.uk
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