Brooks gets £1.7m, a car and an office

London: Rebekah Brooks, the former News of the World editor who resigned as chief executive of News International at the height of the phone-hacking scandal, received £1.7 million (Dh10.01 million), the use of a London office and a chauffeur-driven limousine as part of her severance package.

Brooks, a favourite of Rupert Murdoch who rose from being a secretary to the very top of the mogul's UK operation, quit in July amid claims over the alleged illegal activities carried out by executives and reporters.

Days after quitting, she was arrested in connection with allegations of phone hacking and corruption.

Records at Companies House show that she has resigned from 23 directorships related to the firm.

However, it has emerged that, along with a generous payoff and continued use of her company limousine and driver for two years, Brooks, 43, has been given an office for the same period of time in central London.

Tom Watson, the Labour MP who helped lead the fight to expose phone-hacking, said: "It is remarkably curious that such a generous package is given to Ms Brooks when others have been cut loose."

Rupert's son James will make a second appearance before a Commons committee this week after discrepancies in previous testimony.

— Guardian News & Media Ltd