Day 061 - 05 Dec 94 - Page 55


     
     1
     2   MS. STEEL:  It does not make any difference if you read on.
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  If you are asked to read on read on anyway.
     5        It is a convention that if you are asked to read on you do,
     6        and then we can see whether it make any difference.
     7
     8   MS. STEEL:  "They had seriously considered getting a ventral
     9        neck cutter.  They have subsequently introduced on.  It
    10        takes time to -- ventral neck cutters are not used.  You
    11        have to get one specially; they are not available.  So they
    12        have got a ventral neck cutter now."  But that was quite
    13        some time; there two visits that he made and both times the
    14        company was not complying with the codes of practice.  Does
    15        that concern you?
    16        A.  Yes, that would concern me and I think the company have
    17        responded now by putting in the appropriate equipment.
    18
    19   Q.   Was that after you put pressure on them?
    20        A.  Barbara Crawford put some pressure on.
    21
    22   Q.   About that particular?
    23        A.  About that particular piece of equipment.
    24
    25   Q.   How long do you put up with suppliers transgressing the
    26        codes of practice before you actually enforce this policy
    27        of refusing to accept suppliers from such companies?
    28        A.  I said to you it is not a matter of how long do you put
    29        up with something.  If it were to go on on a continuous
    30        basis, we would certainly discontinue purchasing from the
    31        supplier.  On this occasion Dr. Gregory identified problems
    32        on two occasions and it has been put right.  I would not
    33        call that continuous.
    34
    35   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Shall we have a five-minute break now?
    36
    37   MS. STEEL:  I have a couple of other things about the codes of
    38        practice I have found, so maybe I will ask them and then we
    39        can have the break.  Mr. Gregory was being asked the
    40        stunning of pigs on page 55: You mention in your statement
    41        that you could not see any backup gun at the stunning pen.
    42        That is right, is it not?" He says: "In plant B?"  "Yes.
    43        So that means it would not have been readily available?"
    44        He said: "That is likely."  Question: "That is something
    45        that is contrary to the codes of practice?"  He said: "That
    46        is correct", because if there is a problem with stunning
    47        and you cannot reload, then you cannot do an immediate stun
    48        after.  Is that something McDonald's has investigated, this
    49        breach of the code of practice here?
    50        A.  No, it is not something I was aware of.  Certainly had 
    51        it been so on a continuous basis then I would have been 
    52        aware, but I do not think it is. 
    53
    54   Q.   Well, how you would be aware of it?
    55        A.  We are talking of one-off occasions only here.
    56
    57   Q.   How do you know it is a one-off occasion?  You are making
    58        these assertions, but you do not know that, do you?
    59        A.  Because I explained to you the supplier would send
    60        their representatives to the abattoirs.  They go there very

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