Day 119 - 02 May 95 - Page 38


     
     1
     2   MR. MORRIS:  So did they spend all the time checking?  How would
     3        they find out about this then, your Field Personnel
     4        Officer?
     5        A.  As I said, there would be a record made of that, and
     6        they would know where to look for that record, probably on
     7        the manager's file.
     8
     9   Q.   So they would check the manager's disciplinary file, would
    10        they?
    11        A.  Oh, yes, absolutely.
    12
    13   Q.   For every store in the London and south area?
    14        A.  Yes, on an audit.
    15
    16   Q.   Once a year on the audit?
    17        A.  Not necessarily once a year.
    18
    19   Q.   But generally once a year was the full field audit, yes?
    20        A.  Yes, unless we felt it was necessary to carry out more.
    21
    22   Q.   But there would be no record at Head Office, in some
    23        accessible form, for you as Head of the Department to know
    24        whether breaches were taking place on a wide scale or not?
    25        A.  Not necessarily, no.
    26
    27   Q.   So, in reality, breaches may have been taking place on a
    28        wide scale but you personally would not have known about
    29        it?
    30        A.  No, I have faith in the system.
    31
    32   Q.   You said that if that had been found out -- the first time
    33        you said it, you said it in evidence-in-chief -- "Breaches
    34        of employment regulations for young people would have been
    35        dealt with very severely"?
    36        A.  Yes.
    37
    38   Q.   Then, the other day you said, I think, something
    39        equivalent, the same?
    40        A.  Rigorously.
    41
    42   Q.   No, you said "severely".  Then the last time you mentioned
    43        it, you said: "It may have just been a chat from one of
    44        supervisors"?
    45        A.  No, it would not just be a chat, I said he would have
    46        dealt with it as appropriately.
    47
    48   Q.   So, what would be the general disciplinary action, very
    49        severe discipline action, that would be taken against a
    50        manager that broke the law five times in one day as regards 
    51        the employment of young people? 
    52        A.  Well, I would have to know all the surrounding 
    53        circumstances to even hazard a guess at what action was
    54        taken.
    55
    56   Q.   What are your very severe punishments, or actions to be
    57        taken against managers?  Give us an example of very severe
    58        actions?
    59        A.  Severely reprimanded.
    60

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