Day 132 - 07 Jun 95 - Page 24
1 A. That is entirely what happens, and that may change
2 almost from year to year. I can remember having: "Let us
3 look at all our food shops" campaign. Similarly, local
4 authorities are now expected to conduct risk rating of
5 premises so that they concentrate their inspection time on
6 those premises which are perceived to have the greatest
7 risk either for food safety or health and safety. They
8 have tried to organise their inspection to target major
9 things of this, and to deal with the points that are being
10 suggested.
11
12 MR. MORRIS: Do you know in your discussions with the Company,
13 McDonald's, your engagement by the Company soon after Jill
14 Barnes was appointed and before the Health and Safety
15 Executive report, we have heard from Mrs. Barnes -- this is
16 a long question -- that there were a substantial number of
17 Environmental Health Officers making various criticisms and
18 suggestions to local McDonald's ---
19 A. Yes.
20
21 Q. -- stores ---
22 A. Yes.
23
24 Q. -- around the country, and this is one of the reasons that
25 the HSE approach ----
26 A. They wanted to look at the central systems, as
27 I understand it.
28
29 Q. -- yes, was taken up by them and also agreed to by
30 McDonald's. Do you know, do you have information, about
31 what those Environmental Health Officers were saying and
32 proposing, criticising?
33 A. Not specifically, no. I mean, from time to time issues
34 have been -- I have been asked for my opinion on various
35 issues. I cannot be specific about them. Normally, they
36 would be dealt with by one of the regional safety advisers,
37 as has been the one that you highlighted for me there.
38
39 Q. But were you asked before the HSE investigation took place
40 to look at what the EHOs were saying and doing around the
41 country because obviously McDonald's must have that
42 information somewhere?
43 A. No. I was not specifically asked to do that. They
44 would only do that if they felt there was a problem, if
45 there was something that they could not cope with, if they
46 felt there was a need to reorganise or whatever.
47
48 Q. Before the HSE report came out, or the investigation took
49 place, going on from what Mrs. Barnes said, did she talk to
50 you about this fact, of the regular contact they were
51 having with the EHOs?
52 A. Yes, she did.
53
54 Q. She did?
55 A. Yes.
56
57 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What are you trying to get at? Why not put
58 it straight to Mr. Purslow if you have a particular point
59 on it?
60
