Day 072 - 12 Jan 95 - Page 61
1 of it or has it declined or just kept its head along a
2 straight line, or how has it done since you have taken
3 over?
4 A. It has increased especially on the top line sales, on
5 the sales increases over the previous year.
6
7 Q. So business, in fact, has been good since you have been in
8 charge, is that right?
9 A. Yes, sir.
10
11 Q. How about the morale of your staff, how has that been?
12 A. Excellent, very good.
13
14 Q. Do you think that you have taken on a greater number of
15 people than were there when you first started -- I know it
16 is difficult with part-time workers, but overall a greater
17 number of people than were there when you first took over?
18 A. Well, the numbers do naturally ----
19
20 Q. They do fluctuate I know.
21 A. They do fluctuate, but, yes, I would say that in
22 general we do employ more staff than before.
23
24 Q. From what parts of London in general do your staff come?
25 A. The majority of my staff come from the immediate
26 areas. There are a few from Chelsea, not very many, quite
27 a few from Kensington and South the of the river there is
28 some staff from Balham, Streatham, Wandsworth and
29 Battersea.
30
31 Q. What, roughly speaking, are the proportions of people, if
32 you can tell us, I do not know, you may not be able to,
33 from north and south of the river that work for you?
34 A. North of the river approximately 75 per cent, 80 per
35 cent.
36
37 Q. So that roughly 25 per cent come from south of the river?
38 A. Yes.
39
40 Q. Areas like Streatham, Balham, Wandsworth I think you said?
41 A. Yes.
42
43 Q. Has that proportion from south of the river increased or
44 not since you took over?
45 A. I would say it remained roughly the same.
46
47 Q. Is your staff of a mixed ethnic origin?
48 A. Yes.
49
50 MS. STEEL: Can I just ask a question which is that as
51 I understand it re-examination has to be based upon
52 cross-examination. I do not think we went into this area
53 and I would not like Mr. Rampton to prolong re-examination
54 into tomorrow morning on questions that really do not arise
55 out of cross-examination.
56
57 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, with the greatest respect, I believe they
58 do arise out of cross-examination.
59
60 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Ethnic origin, does that arise?
