Day 203 - 12 Jan 96 - Page 42
1 are encouraging Restaurant Managers to do them themselves.
2 I am not sure. There is a different format. I know that a
3 different format for communication from crew has been
4 proposed. I do not know the details of that.
5
6 MS. STEEL: Right.
7
8 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Because I am bound to forget later, it would
9 interest me to know what has happened, because -- and I say
10 it from a purely practical point of view -- when I come to
11 write my judgment, some of it may be in the present tense,
12 as is what I have heard, and we have had a lot of evidence
13 about what still prevails; and it is totally absurd if it
14 know longer does.
15
16 MR. RAMPTON: I quite agree. That is news to me, too. But
17 I will certainly try and find the information purely -- and
18 I emphasise that -- as a matter of getting history right.
19
20 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What I need to know is that it is agreed, if
21 rap sessions have come to an end, they came to an end at a
22 certain time. What either side wishes to make of that, if
23 anything, we will have to see it, if it is relevant or
24 not. But I am making the point that I would like to know,
25 if the practice has stopped, when it stopped.
26
27 MR. RAMPTON: And, presumably, why.
28
29 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Well, that would be helpful. But I would
30 like to know when they stopped, if they did.
31
32 MS. STEEL: (To the witness): Who was it who told you that rap
33 sessions no longer take place?
34 A. Hearsay. I cannot recall who told me.
35
36 Q. You do not know who it was?
37 A. No. I heard it from somebody on a date I cannot
38 recall, and I cannot recall the person.
39
40 Q. Was it just a crew member, or are you talking -----
41 A. No, it would have been -----
42
43 Q. From Head Office?
44 A. Yes. It is since August 1994 that I have learned that
45 information. My understanding is that whilst the
46 communication with crew has not stopped, the particular
47 method of rap sessions in the past has changed and there is
48 a different format of communication. You know, I could be
49 wrong there. It is hearsay.
50
51 MR. JUSTICE BELL: By all means, answer Ms. Steel's questions,
52 but do not trouble yourself about whether you are right or
53 not.
54
55 MS. STEEL: So, it since you have become an operations
56 development Manager that you have been told that?
57 A. That I have learned of it, yes.
58
59 Q. And that was whilst you were at Head Office?
60 A. Yes.
