Day 153 - 12 Jul 95 - Page 12

     
     1   Q.   No, but I mean they could get a taxi to the station or
     2        something?
     3        A.  Yes, perhaps on that occasion, yes; but not just normal
     4        day-to-day to and from work.
     5
     6   Q.   I am trying to see -- you have an invoice for the taxi
     7        firm, but -----
     8        A.  They gave us an invoice in return for cash.
     9
    10   Q.   Yes.  That would include, though, not just taxis used for
    11        late night closing; it could include also taxis that were
    12        used for other reasons for McDonald's?
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  How often were taxis used for matters apart
    15        from taking crew home after late closes?
    16        A.  Possibly twice a week.
    17
    18   Q.   Going to the station to catch a train somewhere?
    19        A.  Yes, it was for a course.  The only other instance that
    20        would, you know, be the norm was if we were to transfer
         staff between a restaurant.  So that if we wanted some cups
    22        from Clacton, say, we may send a taxi for them.
    23
    24   MR. MORRIS:  How often would that happen?
    25        A.  Couple of times a month, maybe.
    26
    27   Q.   What was the average weekly payment you made to this taxi
    28        firm, Five Star, as far as you can remember?  Are we
    29        talking about 20 quid, 30 quid, or what?
    30        A.  30, 30 to 40, I would imagine.
    31
    32   Q.   Just one thing on your point 8, at the bottom, which has
    33        come up before, the labour rate -- you had to take concern
    34        of the maintaining good service to customers; yes?
    35        A.  Certainly, yes.
    36
    37   Q.   But if you have a low labour rate nationally, it means that
    38        the prices can be kept down, which is part of a good
    39        service to customers, is it not?
    40        A.  It is not necessarily an exact logical step, as you
         say.
    42
    43   Q.   But the customer, generally, would be pleased the lower the
    44        prices were, presumably?
    45        A.  The customers were happy as long as what they got they
    46        felt was a fair price to pay.
    47
    48   Q.   Right.
    49        A.  It does not necessarily follow that the lower price you
    50        pay for something, the happier you are.  It depends on the 
    51        quality. 
    52 
    53   Q.   As long as the food was the same, people would prefer a
    54        lower price rather than a higher price for the same
    55        product?
    56        A.  Put that way, yes.
    57
    58   Q.   McDonald's currently -- it is a bit of a digression -- one
    59        of its main marketing strategies currently is to advertise
    60        the cheapness of its meals or its low prices or value