Day 172 - 12 Oct 95 - Page 06
1 Q. They are dated in May 1990. Can you explain the
2 circumstances which gave rise to these letters?
3 A. Yes. It is quite common for companies to invite media
4 representatives on trips abroad, sometimes in this country,
5 to see their new factory -- maybe a cheese factory or a car
6 plant, or whatever -- and it is known as a press facility
7 trip. McDonald's were footing the bill.
8
9 Q. When you say "press facility", what do you really mean?
10 A. They do everything for you: they buy the tickets and
11 they arrange the hotel. They pay for everything. They
12 take you and bring you back.
13
14 Q. What is the purpose of that?
15 A. It is just known as public relations. It may well be
16 that they are hoping to get something nice out of it.
17 Sometimes it is just their way of saying, "Please come and
18 join us and we will show you our new factory", or
19 whatever. Most of the big companies do it; it is quite
20 common.
21
22 Q. How long did this trip last?
23 A. From memory, it was about three days, I think. The
24 purpose was not just to see McDonald's. McDonald's was
25 just -- obviously, from the Company's point of view, seeing
26 McDonald's and Gorky Street was the highlight, but for the
27 rest of us, obviously, seeing Russia was far more
28 important. They took us round all over the place. It was
29 a very enjoyable visit.
30
31 Q. There were other -- it was not just you; it was a number?
32 A. About a dozen radio and television and newspaper
33 people.
34
35 Q. During this trip, did you have any conversations with
36 Paul Preston?
37 A. Yes, I did. I took the opportunity to tackle him about
38 the Company's employment practices, particularly regarding
39 the trade unions, because that was my speciality. So
40 I thought it was a good opportunity to have a word with him
41 about it.
42
43 Q. What did he say?
44 A. You appreciate that I did not have a tape recorder and
45 I was not specifically there to write a story about that.
46 But I got the distinct impression that they were a
47 non-union company, always had been, always would be.
48
49 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Just pause. I have to take a note, and you
50 are in the driving seat now, so you can go as slowly as you
51 like to make sure I do get a note.
52
53 MR. MORRIS: I am sorry.
54
55 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Bear that in mind. I am taking a note. Just
56 pause there. I have the help of the screen,
57 Mr. Pattinson. (Pause)
58
59 MR. MORRIS: (To the witness) You said: "I got the distinct
60 impression that they were a non-union company, always had