Day 003 - 30 Jun 94 - Page 02

     
     1                                      Thursday, 30th June 1994.
 
     2   MISS STEEL:  We would like to thank the plaintiffs for
              reconsidering their decision to deliver the transcript.
     3        We are sure it will help the court run more smoothly.
 
     4   MR. RAMPTON:  May I call Mr. Paul Preston?
 
     5   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.
 
     6                        Mr. Paul Preston, Sworn
                              Examined by Mr. Rampton
     7
         Q.  Mr. Preston, are your full names Paul Preston?
     8        A.  Paul Steven Preston, yes.
 
     9   Q.   My Lord, may he give his business address?
 
    10   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Certainly, yes.
 
    MR. RAMPTON:  What is the address of your office, Mr. Preston?
              A.  11 to 59 High Road, East Finchley, London N2.
    12
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Mr. Rampton, as far as I am concerned, any
    13        witness can stand up, sit down as and when they please
              while they are in the witness box.
    14
         MR. RAMPTON:  Mr. Preston, also this is for anybody in the
    15        court who is going to give evidence the future, as you can
              hear, this court is very bad acoustically.  It is
    16        necessary, as far as possible, to speak slowly, distinctly
              and quite loudly?
    17        A.  Thank you, I will.
 
    18   Q.   What you say will be recorded, but the people in court, in
              particular his Lordship, need to hear what you say.
    19        Mr. Preston, may we detect you are an American by origin?
              A.  I am.
    20
         Q.   Are you the president and chief executive officer of
         McDonald's Restaurants Limited, the United Kingdom
              subsidiary of McDonald's Corporation in Illinois?
    22        A.  I am.
 
    23   Q.   Can we deduce from that that you are what we might
              facetiously call the "Big Mac" in this country?
    24        A.  Yes, I am and I am proud of it.
 
    25   Q.   Mr. Preston, are you also the relationship partner for a
              number of European countries? 
    26        A.  Yes, I am. 
  
    27   Q.   Would you explain to his Lordship what that particular
              phrase means?
    28        A.  The term relationship partner refers to my
              responsibilities in Scandinavia, Holland, Belgium,
    29        Switzerland, Iceland and Ireland whereby I am top
              managements link with our operating partners in those
    30        countries, not responsible for day-to-day activity per se,
              but more properly involved with the strategic thrust of