The Commons culture, media and sport select committee is poised to reopen an inquiry into tabloid phone tapping following fresh claims by the Guardian newspaper.

Conservative MP John Whittingdale, who chairs the committee, will convene an urgent meeting today to discuss the allegations and will then summon newspaper editors to answer “serious” questions.

He spoke out after the Guardian claimed News Group Newspapers, which publishes the News of the World and The Sun, had paid out more than £1m to settle cases that threatened to reveal evidence of its journalists’ alleged involvement in telephone hacking.