Day 077 - 25 Jan 95 - Page 19

     
     1   Q.   The third and final category are the EHOs.  What is their
     2        function in the abattoir?
     3        A.  Well, the EHOs are meat inspectors.  They are laymen
     4        who are trained in meat inspection and environmental health
     5        issues and they actually are working on the line.  If they
     6        see something which is suspicious to them, they are the
     7        people who are checking glands and looking at the carcass
     8        generally, looking at any malformation in the carcass, and
     9        they will then put it on the detained line into the
    10        detained room for further inspection by the veterinary
    11        officer.
    12
    13   Q.   I will first ask you this:  Roughly how many suppliers of
    14        beef do you have?
    15        A.  Currently we have about 74 abattoirs and boning rooms
    16        which are listed, approved by us, but currently we are
    17        using about 59 as we speak.
    18
    19   Q.   We know you have a plant at Milton Keynes in the Midlands;
    20        do you have another one in the north of England?
         A.  Yes, we have another plant at Scunthorpe in Humberside.
    22
    23   Q.   Take those in series, please.  From how far would the beef
    24        used at Milton Keynes, I mean, if it is on the hoof, be
    25        likely to come?
    26        A.  On the hoof?
    27
    28   Q.   Yes, live cattle, sorry.
    29        A.  We would never use live cattle.
    30
    31   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Put the question again, Mr. Rampton.
    32
    33   MR. RAMPTON:  Does it matter, perhaps it does not, how far away
    34        are the sources of supply, the furthest away from Milton
    35        Keynes?
    36        A.  Southern Ireland, Northern Scotland.
    37
    38   Q.   So the fact that one is in Scunthorpe and one is in Milton
    39        Keynes, has it anything to do with the geographical
    40        location of your sources of supply?
         A.  No.
    42
    43   Q.   It has not?
    44        A.  No.
    45
    46   Q.   What is the reason for having two plants?
    47        A.  Well, (1) for insurance for McDonald's, and
    48        (2) McDonald's distribution; they have a distribution
    49        centre in the south and they have a distribution centre in
    50        the north. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Then I think I have understood it; it is for ease of 
    53        distribution of the finished product?
    54        A.  Yes.
    55
    56   Q.   Do you supply anybody other than McDonald's?
    57        A.  Yes.
    58
    59   Q.   When I say "you" I mean your group of companies?
    60        A.  Yes, we supply the major supermarkets.