Day 172 - 12 Oct 95 - Page 08

     
     1        specifically about young people and low pay.  But he said
     2        McDonald's give a lot of young people their first step on
     3        the road to employment and, in that sense, he thought they
     4        were doing a public service.
     5
     6   MR. MORRIS:  I am going to come on to the letters now, two
     7        letters which you wrote to Corinne Reed Comfort and
     8        Paul Preston himself.  I just -----
     9
    10   MR. JUSTICE BELL: Who is the -- Corinne?
    11
    12   MR. MORRIS:  Corinne Reed Comfort, I believe -- R-E-E-D, and
    13        then Comfort.
    14
    15   MR. RAMPTON:  I do not believe there was any Comfort attached to
    16        the Reed at that time, my Lord.  Oh, there is, sorry.  It
    17        is my fault, again.  It is at the top of the page.  I am
    18        sorry about that.
    19
    20   MR. MORRIS:  Corinne Reed Comfort, I do not think it is a
         secret, she was one of the people involved in arranging the
    22        trip, was she?
    23        A.  Yes.  I think that she was then, and I think she still
    24        is, the chief press officer.
    25
    26   MR. RAMPTON:  No, she is not anymore.
    27
    28   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Do not take any notice of Mr. Rampton.  He
    29        is not giving evidence.  You thought she was the chief
    30        press officer, did you?
    31        A.  I think she was at the time.
    32
    33   MR. MORRIS:  If we look at the first letter, have you got the
    34        Paul Preston letter first?
    35        A.  Yes.
    36
    37   Q.   You have said it was your first opportunity to visit the
    38        Soviet Union; is that correct?
    39        A.  Yes
    40
    Q.   An ambition achieved; is that correct?
    42        A.  Yes.
    43
    44   Q.   Were you very grateful for that opportunity?
    45        A.  Yes.
    46
    47   MR. JUSTICE BELL: Well, is that an honest letter, Mr. Pattinson?
    48        A.  An honest letter, yes.
    49
    50   MR. MORRIS:  You said that your success story should be copied 
    51        by employers and workers everywhere.  What did you mean by 
    52        that? 
    53        A.  Well, I thought then and I thought now that if a
    54        company can be so successful selling hamburgers and chips,
    55        then that model could be developed in the car companies or
    56        the pits, or elsewhere.  I thought the enthusiasm for the
    57        company from the bottom to the top was quite extraordinary;
    58        and, indeed, I said so.
    59
    60   Q.   Does that apply to their employment practices as well?