Day 064 - 08 Dec 94 - Page 05

     
     1   Q.   What is the purpose of those dinners?
     2        A.  It may be purely informational or there may be a
     3        specific reason.  Some years ago when we had particular
     4        planning problems for new sites that we were obtaining, we
     5        sought advice from the particular minister responsible at
     6        that time.  Recently, we had a dinner with the Minister of
     7        Agriculture and really wanted to get his advice on the new
     8        milk mark system that was about to be implemented and why
     9        it was going to be implemented.  So it is informational and
    10        sometimes advice.
    11
    12   Q.   When Margaret Thatcher visited your headquarters, was there
    13        any particular occasion?
    14        A.  Yes, she opened the new office building in East
    15        Finchley.
    16
    17   Q.   The whole headquarters?
    18        A.  Yes.
    19
    20   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is that in her constituency?
         A.  Yes, it is or was.
    22
    23   MR. MORRIS:  Her Election Agent, former Election Agent,
    24        Mike Love, is now your head of your Communications?
    25        A.  Yes, he is.
    26
    27   Q.   Her former Press Secretary, Bernard Ingham, is now your
    28        Non-executive Director?
    29        A.  Yes.
    30
    31   MR. RAMPTON:  Can I ask, my Lord, where this line of questioning
    32        takes us?   I am not aware that there is any allegation in
    33        the papers or the statements about some kind of political
    34        taint.
    35
    36   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What is the point of it, Mr. Morris?
    37
    38   MR. MORRIS:  I think it is an underlying -- it may be of
    39        underlying significance in terms of matters that are
    40        relevant to the case that may or may not be controversial.
    41
    42   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  No, I do not accept that.
    43
    44   MS. STEEL:  While we have this open, about three paragraphs
    45        above, the paragraph just above the picture in the
    46        right-hand column?
    47        A.  Yes.
    48
    49   Q.   Halfway through it says:  "All farmers supplying beef to
    50        McDonald's must sign a statement confirming that they 
    51        comply with EC Animal Welfare Regulations and that cattle 
    52        are not treated with hormones or growth promoters"? 
    53        A.  Yes.
    54
    55   Q.   How is that enforced?
    56        A.  It is enforced by McKey, our supplier, hamburger
    57        supplier.
    58
    59   Q.   So you do not make any checks on that at all?
    60        A.  We do not, no.  That is purely their responsibility.