Day 064 - 08 Dec 94 - Page 12

     
     1   MS. STEEL:   The sourcing of beef relates to rainforests;
     2        obviously within Europe it does not, but it is a question
     3        of if they have a so-called policy on using locally
     4        produced beef, and they use that as a defence, we want to
     5        see whether in truth, you know, the practice is what the
     6        policy says it is.
     7
     8   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Ask some questions about it then which do
     9        relate to the rainforests.
    10
    11   MS. STEEL:   I am asking about the policy as opposed to, you
    12        know, the specific rainforest issue at the moment.
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It goes beyond policy on McDonald's case;
    15        they say it does not actually happen.  It is not that their
    16        case just relies on their being a policy to that effect.
    17        Carry on for the time being, but I do think it is one or
    18        two phases removed from what you are going to aim at over
    19        rainforests.
    20
    MS. STEEL:  I think that the company puts out statements saying
    22        they do not do this, they do do that.
    23
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You have made your point.  Carry on, but try
    25        to bear in mind that is your only objective.  Mr. Oakley
    26        has said, in effect, that Britain supplies beef for patties
    27        in some European countries because there are not suppliers
    28        of the appropriate standard in those countries.
    29
    30   MS. STEEL:   You said Denmark and Holland currently were being
    31        supplied with beef from Britain and Belgium.  Are you
    32        saying that none of those countries -----
    33        A.  I did not say Belgium currently.  Belgium at that time.
    34
    35   Q.   Right.  So, which are the ones currently then?
    36        A.  Holland and Denmark.
    37
    38   Q.   They are the only two?
    39        A.  As I recall, yes.
    40
    Q.   Is that the same for the past year or so?
    42        A.  Sorry?
    43
    44   Q.   Is that the same for the past year or two?
    45        A.  Yes.
    46
    47   Q.   Are you saying that you cannot get good enough quality beef
    48        in those two countries?
    49        A.  No, I am not.
    50 
    51   Q.   Right, so what is the reason why you use English beef, UK 
    52        beef, in those countries? 
    53        A.  I never said we used UK beef in those countries and, in
    54        fact, we do not.  We supply hamburgers to those countries.
    55        I did not say we use UK beef.
    56
    57   Q.   So where does the beef come from?
    58        A.  Beef for Holland comes from Holland and is processed
    59        here in the UK and sent back as hamburgers to Holland.
    60