Day 122 - 05 May 95 - Page 37
1 council decided they were dangerous place for children.
2
3 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Why I interrupted was you used the word
4 "exploited" because something can be thought to be not in
5 their best interests, even though it is not exploitation.
6 It could clearly be, it was presumably because that borough
7 council ---
8 A. Safety ground.
9
10 Q. -- thought that it was not in the interests of
11 children ---
12 A. Absolutely.
13
14 Q. -- to be working at McDonald's or, for all I know, anywhere
15 similar?
16 A. I think I would agree with them, my Lord. I do not
17 think a McDonald's kitchen is a place for children.
18
19 MR. MORRIS: But some McDonald's do employ children? We are
20 talking about ---
21 A. No ---
22
23 Q. -- before ----
24 A. -- I think what we were talking about is that it had
25 been brought to my attention they were employing children
26 under school leaving age. We had stopped our restaurants
27 doing that.
28
29 Q. But before that they were working at McDonald's, children?
30 A. Under school leaving age, that was the 16 year-olds who
31 had not -- we never employed 15 year-olds, never have done
32 -- they were 16 year-olds who had not reached the school
33 leaving age. That was a very complicated thing to work out
34 in any case.
35
36 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What is the purpose of the last paragraph
37 then and the first one?
38 A. It had been brought to my attention that someone was
39 employing children.
40
41 Q. Very well. Then if one goes to the last paragraph: "If
42 you are employing or are considering employing children
43 under the age of 16, you must take great care", etc.
44 A. Yes.
45
46 Q. So you are not saying ---
47 A. They cannot do it.
48
49 Q. -- "Do not employ them under 16"?
50 A. No. We advised -- we told our restaurants they should
51 not and we are telling licensees ---
52
53 Q. This is for the licensees?
54 A. -- that is right -- "although we cannot direct you not
55 to do it", we are warning them of the dangers.
56
57 MR. MORRIS: And the danger is that they may breach employment
58 regulations?
59 A. Local regulations.
60
