Day 072 - 12 Jan 95 - Page 61


     
     1        of it or has it declined or just kept its head along a
     2        straight line, or how has it done since you have taken
     3        over?
     4        A.  It has increased especially on the top line sales, on
     5        the sales increases over the previous year.
     6
     7   Q.   So business, in fact, has been good since you have been in
     8        charge, is that right?
     9        A.  Yes, sir.
    10
    11   Q.   How about the morale of your staff, how has that been?
    12        A.  Excellent, very good.
    13
    14   Q.   Do you think that you have taken on a greater number of
    15        people than were there when you first started -- I know it
    16        is difficult with part-time workers, but overall a greater
    17        number of people than were there when you first took over?
    18        A.  Well, the numbers do naturally ----
    19
    20   Q.   They do fluctuate I know.
    21        A.  They do fluctuate, but, yes, I would say that in
    22        general we do employ more staff than before.
    23
    24   Q.   From what parts of London in general do your staff come?
    25        A.  The majority of my staff come from the immediate
    26        areas.  There are a few from Chelsea, not very many, quite
    27        a few from Kensington and South the of the river there is
    28        some staff from Balham, Streatham, Wandsworth and
    29        Battersea.
    30
    31   Q.   What, roughly speaking, are the proportions of people, if
    32        you can tell us, I do not know, you may not be able to,
    33        from north and south of the river that work for you?
    34        A.  North of the river approximately 75 per cent, 80 per
    35        cent.
    36
    37   Q.   So that roughly 25 per cent come from south of the river?
    38        A.  Yes.
    39
    40   Q.   Areas like Streatham, Balham, Wandsworth I think you said?
    41        A.  Yes.
    42
    43   Q.   Has that proportion from south of the river increased or
    44        not since you took over?
    45        A.  I would say it remained roughly the same.
    46
    47   Q.   Is your staff of a mixed ethnic origin?
    48        A.  Yes.
    49
    50   MS. STEEL:  Can I just ask a question which is that as 
    51        I understand it re-examination has to be based upon 
    52        cross-examination.  I do not think we went into this area 
    53        and I would not like Mr. Rampton to prolong re-examination
    54        into tomorrow morning on questions that really do not arise
    55        out of cross-examination.
    56
    57   MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, with the greatest respect, I believe they
    58        do arise out of cross-examination.
    59
    60   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Ethnic origin, does that arise?

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