Day 169 - 04 Oct 95 - Page 30
1 wish. He was called right at the beginning and then put
2 off for a variety of reasons. I can see some sense in
3 Mr. Preston being recalled after we have heard at least the
4 very bulk of the employment evidence, because matters may
5 occur in the employment evidence which could sensibly be
6 put to him. The same may be said in relation to
7 environment and publication, but it is much less easy to
8 see how that might apply. But he is your witness and,
9 essentially, it is a matter for you. Subject to anything
10 either Ms. Steel or Mr. Morris wished to say about being
11 put in any difficulty, if they do have anything to say, of
12 course, I will listen.
13
14 MR. RAMPTON: What I would really appreciate is to be told by
15 your Lordship how many of the days next week we should try
16 and fill with evidence and then one would go on a hunt and
17 come back as soon as possible and tell your Lordship what
18 our proposals are, aiming, if your Lordship thought it
19 right to do so, for the second rather than the first half
20 of next week partly to give ourselves more time to find
21 people, because I am running out now of employment
22 witnesses. Mr. Mehigan is fixed for the 16th.
23
24 MR. JUSTICE BELL: He is definitely fixed?
25
26 MR. RAMPTON: He is definitely fixed for that, yes. He is
27 coming over here, I think, at the weekend.
28
29 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What I would like you to do is find a way of
30 filling Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th and Friday 13th of
31 next week.
32
33 MR. MORRIS: Can I just say that, there may be some outstanding
34 legal matters apart from the nutrition meaning, obviously
35 the Bath documents have got to be aired preferably as soon
36 as possible. Certainly we hope that is resolved before our
37 witnesses are called. So that might be something that
38 could sensibly be done on the 11th, say, and then a witness
39 for the 12th and 13th. There may be some other bits and
40 pieces of legal matters that we want to bring up.
41
42 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I do not want to spend the 11th on Bath
43 documentation, although I want to get on with it as soon as
44 possible, unless McDonald's feel that they have had a
45 reasonable opportunity to look into the documents, for
46 instance, on your list and see what is there and what is
47 not. If they have by early next week, then well and good.
48 I do not see why Mr. Fairgreave should not come back on
49 those days because at the moment the suggestion is that
50 Monday and Tuesday will be preparation days. I would be
51 surprised if he took more than a day and a half.
52
53 MR. RAMPTON: My Lord, the other possibilities that occur to me
54 are Mr. Bone from Jarretts who is still to give evidence.
55 As your Lordship said, he must give evidence, if possible,
56 before Miss Hovey returns for further cross-examination.
57 Mr. Bateman, the paper maker. That leaves the nutrition
58 witnesses on one side, naturally. We do have some
59 flexibility. We will find out what the availability of the
60 candidates is and we will tell your Lordship just as soon
