Murdoch man who also worked at Scotland Yard ARRESTED

A former editor of the News of the World who also worked as a PR consultant to the Metropolitan Police has been arrested. News Corp chief Rupert Murdoch and his son James Murdoch have confirmed they will appear before a Parliamentary committee investigating the phone-hacking scandal that has engulfed their media empire.

A spokeswoman at News Corp told The Register that the company was "in the process of writing to the committee now".

As we reported earlier today, the two men had rejected an initial request from Tory MP and chairman of the culture, media and sport committee John Whittingdale to attend the public inquiry on 19 July.

The Murdochs were later summonsed to attend the grilling by Whittingdale.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police issued a statement this afternoon about Chamy Media, which until it was dissolved on 27 April this year according to Companies' House records, was owned by ex-News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis.

That company was "appointed to provide strategic communication advice and support to the Metropolitan Police Service, including advice on speech writing and PR activity, while the Met's Deputy Director of Public Affairs was on extended sick leave recovering from a serious illness," said the Met.

"In line with MPS/MPA procurement procedures, three relevant companies were invited to provide costings for this service on the basis of two days per month. Chamy Media were appointed as they were significantly cheaper than the others. The contract ran from October 2009 until September 2010, when it was terminated by mutual consent."

It's understood that Wallis is the 60-year-old man currently in police custody in West London. ®