The Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, told MPs this week that enforcement action would be more difficult to take against any of the 98 businesses, including 22 law firms, which have been connected to the hacking inquiry because of delays in getting their files to him. A 'seven-year dither' by the police, particularly the Serious Organised Crime Agency, in passing over accurate information would make further action less likely, he suggested.

Discussion ongoing

According to The Independent, Mr Graham told the Home Affairs Select Committee: 'My opinion is that I would have very much preferred that these offences were followed up as soon as they could be.' However, the fact that a law firm's name is on the list means only that they were in contact with a private investigator being investigated by the police. It would not mean that they had committed any offence or wrong-doing. Discussion continues among the MPs about when (or whether) they will publish the names on the list.