Leveson Inquiry Costs Reach $6.2 Million

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LONDON - The Leveson Inquiry into media ethics and standards in the U.K. has cost £3.9 million ($6.2 million) so far.

The disclosure on the inquiry's web site includes overall costs from the establishment of the review by Justice Brian Leveson in mid-July 2011, in the wake of the News Corp. phone hacking scandal, through June 30.

That meant costs of £1.1 million ($1.75 million) during the second quarter, which saw Leveson wrap up his questioning of politicians and media industry executives, including News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch and son and deputy COO James Murdoch, among others.

The two biggest cost factors for the Leveson Inquiry so far are its secretariat staff at £1.2 million ($1.9 million) and its legal staff at £1 million ($1.6 million).

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Leveson is expected to publish a final report on his work in early November, a little later than the original October target date. It is expected to include suggestions for how to update Britain's press regulation.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com
Twitter: @georgszalai