Day 065 - 09 Dec 94 - Page 62

     
     1        their funding and need to seek funding from commercials
     2        source.  The commercialisation of academia is a trend.
     3
     4   MR. RAMPTON:  Do you want to persist, Ms. Dibb, in your rather
     5        faint-hearted attempt to suggest that the results of this
     6        research are tainted by the fact that it was funded by the
     7        Advertising Association?
     8        A.  No, I am afraid my criticisms are far more serious than
     9        that.
    10
    11   Q.   I want to know the answer to my question.  You made an
    12        attempt to suggest that we could not rely on this because
    13        it was funded by the Advertising Association.  Do you wish
    14        to persist in that?
    15        A.  I said I would like to point out that it was funded by
    16        the Advertising Association.
    17
    18   Q.   Why do you want to point that out?
    19        A.  Because I think it is a very relevant question whenever
    20        one is looking at any piece of research is to ask who
         funded it.
    22
    23   Q.   Why?
    24        A.  Why?  Because it is one influence on possibly the
    25        setting up of that experiment.  We all know the phrase of
    26        "he who pays the piper calls the tune".  Therefore, it is
    27        entirely relevant to know, particularly something that has,
    28        purports to be within an academic organisation, it is
    29        extremely relevant to know who might have funded that and
    30        what might have been their motives for so doing.
    31
    32   Q.   It is relevant for this reason, according to you as I
    33        understand it, that one must be suspicious or mistrustful
    34        of the results because it is likely that the researches
    35        have manipulated the data so as to suit the piper, is that
    36        right?
    37        A.  I would like to go through a number of criticisms of
    38        the research which are far more serious.
    39
    40   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  By all means come to that, but you must
         answer the question.
    42        A.  If you let me talk about the criticisms that were
    43        raised, then perhaps it will become clear.
    44
    45   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You will be given an opportunity to do that,
    46        but I am afraid you cannot pick the questions you are
    47        asked.  You must answer those.
    48
    49   MS. STEEL:  I do not know this is fair because there have been a
    50        number of occasions when the Plaintiffs' witnesses have not 
    51        wanted to directly answer questions that we have put to 
    52        them.  They have not been forced to do that.  They have 
    53        been unable to give their own explaination about what are
    54        their concerns about the particular issue.
    55
    56   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  As far as I am aware, they have been asked to
    57        answer the question as well.  There is no harm in answering
    58        the question so long as you are given a full opportunity to
    59        say what you want to say in addition.
    60