To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each of the four national security categories have been informed by the Metropolitan Police that their voicemails had been illegally tapped on behalf of media organisations as a result of the investigation leading to the conviction of Mr. Glenn Mulcaire and Mr. Clive Goodman in 2007. (307874)

[holding answer 6 January 2010]: I understand from the Metropolitan Police Service that a very small number of individuals were contacted in the categories listed, and that no additional individuals have been contacted since Assistant Commissioner Yates’ statements in July last year.

The MPS is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy of those who may have been subject to illegal interception of their communications, but is actively considering against that background what information might be released which would not permit the possible identification of individuals.