Day 078 - 26 Jan 95 - Page 40
1
2 MS. STEEL: But it did up to 1984?
3 A. Yes.
4
5 Q. Is the current purchase under the same LOME scheme?
6 A. Yes, LOME beef is available. There is -- most of it
7 goes to Germany at the moment. LOME beef is just a scheme
8 which Brussels brought in to assist previous colonies. The
9 French take it from Madagascar. We take it from Botswana.
10 That is all it is. It is a scheme to help the countries
11 which previously we had a responsibility for.
12
13 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What do the letters stands for?
14 A. I think, sir, it is based on the town of LOME where the
15 agreement was signed.
16
17 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Very well, thank you.
18
19 MS. STEEL: Are you buying beef from other countries at the
20 moment?
21 A. No -- only countries within Europe.
22
23 Q. Have you got a copy of this document?
24 A. Not with me. I know the document.
25
26 MR. RAMPTON: We have millions of them, my Lord. (Handed).
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28 MR. MORRIS: It is In Pursuit of Excellence one.
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30 MS. STEEL: This is about your partnership with McDonald's?
31 A. Yes.
32
33 Q. Is everything in here true?
34 A. Absolutely.
35
36 Q. In the sheet with the flags on it ---
37 A. Yes.
38
39 Q. -- here, the first column says: "Beef for use in the
40 production process contains a minimum of 50 per cent prime
41 steer and heifer and originates only from EEC approved
42 slaughtering and boning facilities with beef not only from
43 the UK but other EEC countries, Canada and the United
44 States of America. Such volumes call for more than 43
45 abattoirs and boning facilities as suppliers to McKey"?
46 A. Yes.
47
48 Q. How long has that been the situation for?
49 A. Well, I do not think -- I can see what I think you are
50 driving at. You are referring to Canada and the United
51 States. That came in under the Hilton scheme and I do not
52 think that the Hilton scheme has been available for about
53 six years.
54
55 Q. I think you said yesterday that this document was produced
56 in 1991?
57 A. Yes. I mean, the Hilton scheme is still there.
58
59 Q. That would have been in place at that time?
60 A. Yes, but the Hilton scheme is still there, but we have
