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

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