Day 291 - 31 Oct 96 - Page 40


     
     1        meat industry the suffering of animals is inevitable" was
     2        on day 78, page 63, line 53.
     3
     4        If I could just make a couple of points?  Mr. Morris dealt
     5        mainly with things that I was going to raise about the
     6        policy, and I might as well just finish it off.
     7
     8        The reference on day 59, page 5, line 56, about the Animal
     9        Welfare statement first being published two years ago, that
    10        must have been -- I don't know whether it was 1994 or
    11        1995.  I can't remember when he gave evidence.  I think it
    12        was 1994.  He claimed that the policy had existed verbally
    13        before that time.
    14
    15        He also said, on day 159, page 6: "We published the animal
    16        welfare policy in 1992.  Before that, we did not have many
    17        inquiries."
    18
    19        Mr. Walker, from McKey Foods, said, on day 80, page 40,
    20        that he first saw McDonald's animal welfare policy last
    21        year.  He gave evidence in February 1995.  So, the first he
    22        saw of McDonald's animal welfare policy (which Mr. Oakley
    23        claimed came in in 1992), Mr. Walker did not see it until
    24        1994, which is somewhat surprising if what Mr. Oakley says
    25        is true, seeing as Mr. Walker is his chief supplier.
    26
    27   MR JUSTICE BELL:  Well, you made that point before.  What you
    28        say is, it is for the consumption of members of the public
    29        rather than for the suppliers, for it to have some effect
    30        on animal welfare.
    31
    32   MS. STEEL:   Yes, that is right.  With reference to that point,
    33        I think it is worth noting in pink volume 9, tab 5, the
    34        letter from McKeys Foods -----
    35
    36   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Give me that reference again.
    37
    38   MS. STEEL:   Pink 9.  It is the letter from McKeys.  I mean, we
    39        have not -----
    40
    41   MR JUSTICE BELL:  You gave me a divider as well.
    42
    43   MS. STEEL:   Tab 5.  Sorry.  We have not got the letter that was
    44        sent out.  It is dated 1st July 1991.
    45
    46        It says: "With reference to your inquiry to us concerning
    47        the animal welfare issue, I of course have already sent you
    48        a copy of the Bramble report for guidance."  That was an
    49        animal welfare report.  It says: "In addition to this,
    50        there is very little that I can actually state which will 
    51        help you from a PR point of view." 
    52 
    53        I think that really demonstrates what this is all about.
    54        It is all about making a lot of noise and saying how much
    55        they care about animals, when the reality is that they are
    56        basically utterly indifferent; and even when suppliers are
    57        carrying out things which are contrary to the Codes of
    58        Practice and contrary to the claimed policy which
    59        McDonald's now have, they are still not discontinuing the
    60        suppliers.

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