Day 077 - 25 Jan 95 - Page 70
1
2 MR. RAMPTON: Was it or was it not that fifth consignment
3 balance sheet beef?
4 A. No, it was not balance sheet beef.
5
6 Q. Why was it not balance sheet beef?
7 A. Because due to pressure from commercial competitors our
8 balance licence was rescinded.
9
10 Q. Had you at the date of the recision already contracted to
11 take this consignment?
12 A. Yes, we had.
13
14 Q. In consequence of that, did you pay a higher price for it
15 than you would have otherwise had done had it remained
16 balance sheet beef?
17 A. Yes, we did.
18
19 Q. If you turn over to tab 4, this scheme which we see in
20 March 1983 you were discussing with Customs and Excise, was
21 there scheme in due course approved by Customs and Excise?
22 A. Yes, it was.
23
24 Q. Was there required by Customs and Excise any kind of a
25 trial run to see whether it worked or not?
26 A. Yes.
27
28 Q. Was that because McDonald's were an outlet and on its face
29 McKey was a supplier?
30 A. That is correct.
31
32 Q. My Lord, I am leading on this because it emerges from the
33 documents. Was your argument that in fact it was all one
34 operation?
35 A. That was the absolute gist of my argument. McDonald's
36 owned the company. McDonald's owned the meat. McDonald's
37 cooked the meat before they sold it to the customer.
38
39 Q. Did Customs and Excise require a trial run at certain
40 collected West End stores?
41 A. Yes, they did.
42
43 Q. So that they could watch the beef all the way through the
44 process to putting it on the plate?
45 A. Yes.
46
47 Q. Where they satisfied with the conditions?
48 A. Yes.
49
50 Q. Can you then turn, please, to what the position is
51 expressed to have been by Weddel in May of 1983 which is at
52 page 8? You should find a letter from Weddel dated 3rd May
53 addressed to you. Am I right about that?
54 A. Yes.
55
56 Q. The fourth paragraph reads as follows: "You", that is you
57 Mr. Walker, "were asking what the comparative values were
58 between Australia and Brazil. Assuming we deliver via
59 London Cold Store the Australian beef would cost
60 approximately 94p and Brazilian 69p", that is per pound
