Day 134 - 13 Jun 95 - Page 59


     
     1        time they would have their rate of pay enhanced as it might
     2        already be, nevertheless, increased by the amount per hour
     3        that the Wages Council had increased minimum rates by, do
     4        you understand?
     5        A.  Yes, I do.
     6
     7   Q.   Against that background, would you like to ask your
     8        question, Ms. Steel?  Look back if you want to, but it does
     9        not have to be in the same words.  Put what you want to put
    10        to Ms. Mead.
    11
    12   MS. STEEL:  Right.  (To the witness):  Is it basically the
    13        position that prior to that date, if, say, the minimum wage
    14        was increased by 15 pence, but somebody through their
    15        performance reviews was already 25 pence over the old rate,
    16        they would be now 10 pence over the new rate and they would
    17        not get a pay increase?
    18        A.  I believe that is so, yes, from recollection here,
    19        without having checked it, but I believe that is what that
    20        would imply, that that was the change at that point.
    21
    22   Q.   If they were 15 pence over the old rate and the wages went
    23        up 15 pence, they would be bang on the minimum from that
    24        year?
    25        A.  I think so.  You said if they were -- if the increase
    26        awarded was 15 pence and they were already 15 pence above
    27        it?
    28
    29   Q.   Yes, above the old rate, yes?
    30        A.  And the rate then moved?
    31
    32   Q.   Yes.
    33        A.  Yes, I think that would be how it would be.
    34
    35   MR. MORRIS:  We are just finishing up a few bits and pieces.
    36
    37   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  If you are confident that you are going to
    38        finish this afternoon, I would rather you got yourself
    39        organised.  If it is nip and tuck, I would like you to keep
    40        going; if you are not going to finish this afternoon, then
    41        we will sit tomorrow.  I am prepared to sit a little later
    42        this evening if it will help.  But I would rather you sat
    43        down and got your yourself organised.  If you know whether
    44        there is a real prospect of finishing or not tonight, then
    45        say so.
    46
    47   MS. STEEL:  There is a possibility but I do not think we are
    48        really entirely sure about whether we will finish or not.
    49
    50   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Sit down for a moment.  Get yourself 
    51        organised and then carry on. 
    52 
    53   MR. MORRIS:  If I can deal with one matter, there was the matter
    54        at the Gravesend ------
    55
    56   MR. RAMPTON:  That is the Gravesham conviction we have been
    57        through, I think it is about, four times in the course of
    58        this case.  It has to do with Health and Safety at Work.
    59        It was a conviction in the Magistrates Court which was
    60        allowed on appeal in the Crown Court -- sorry, was

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