Day 096 - 03 Mar 95 - Page 15

     
     1   Q.   Who decided on that instruction?
     2        A.  We, as a company, as a group management team.
     3
     4   Q.   But you do not remember when you actually decided to make
     5        that instruction?
     6        A.  No, that is part of our company's evolution.
     7
     8   Q.   Have any of your suppliers used sweat boxes in the last
     9        five years?
    10        A.  Definitely not.
    11
    12   Q.   What about within the last 10 years?
    13        A.  I think you will not be able to find one of those in
    14        the last 10 years -- I do not think you would find any in
    15        East Anglia, to my knowledge, and probably not this
    16        country.
    17
    18   Q.   The stocking density for your suppliers, is that something
    19        that has improved over the last 10 years or so -- pigs have
    20        been given more space?
         A.  I would not think -- there has been very little change
    22        over the years because any sensible producer would not be
    23        overstocking anyhow.
    24
    25   Q.   What would you consider to be overstocking then?
    26        A.  When the pigs are over-crowded.  You know, you have the
    27        MAFF legislation that has been in place for some time.
    28        There has also been recommendations there for many years.
    29        I do not know of anyone in our area who has ever had a
    30        problem with overstocking, with prosecutions or anything
    31        like that.
    32
    33   Q.   But the stocking density is not something that is legally
    34        enforceable anyway, is it, it is a recommendation rather
    35        than a law?
    36        A.  Yes, but you have to think of common sense also because
    37        if one overstocks you, are just ruining your animals.  You
    38        have to give credence to the countryman knowing what good
    39        husbandry is.
    40
    Q.   Sorry, can you just say what the stocking density
    42        recommendations are, to save me looking them up?
    43
    44   MR. RAMPTON:  I can tell your Lordship.
    45
    46   MR. MORRIS:  No, I think the witness should answer.
    47
    48   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Wait, wait.
    49
    50   MR. RAMPTON:  I will wait but Ms. Steel said she did not want to 
    51        look it up so I have looked it up. 
    52 
    53   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Are you asking to test whether he knows or
    54        because you want to know them because, if it is the latter,
    55        we can just look at the document; if it is you are testing
    56        his knowledge, then I understand your unwillingness to let
    57        Mr. Rampton tell us, but otherwise a quick route is just to
    58        know.
    59
    60   MS. STEEL:   I will ask the witness if he could give us that,