Day 080 - 30 Jan 95 - Page 39

     
     1   MS. STEEL:   So it was, basically, for hygiene reasons?
     2        A.  Yes.
     3
     4   Q.   During those 12 months were you still getting meat from
     5        that company?
     6        A.  Yes.
     7
     8   Q.   You were?
     9        A.  Yes.
    10
    11   Q.   So they had 12 months to sort it out and they did not
    12        manage to do it so you delisted them?
    13        A.  That particular company was not supplying us every day,
    14        every week.  They were supplying us periodically.  They had
    15        an inspection and it was bad.  They had another one and it
    16        was bad.  Ultimately, I went out there and I walked in and
    17        closed it down.
    18
    19   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  When you say "closed it down" do you mean
    20        took them off your list?
         A.  I told them they could not supply us any further, sir.
    22        As a matter of fact, on an odd occasion -----
    23
    24   Q.   I saw you as an Obergruppen Fuhrer walking around closing
    25        places down, but what you did was close them off your list?
    26        A.  Yes, they could no longer supply us.
    27
    28   MS. STEEL:   Sorry, I want to ask something else and I cannot
    29        find the reference.
    30
    31   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Sit down and find where you are.
    32
    33   MS. STEEL:  You have said the system of inspection by LVOs, EHOs
    34        and the Ministry is changing currently?
    35        A.  Yes.
    36
    37   Q.   Is that right?
    38        A.  Yes.
    39
    40   Q.   The inspections that you have described them making, are
         they the current ones or are they the old ones?
    42        A.  The ones I have described are the old ones.  I have to
    43         -- can I explain to you what is happening?
    44
    45   Q.   Yes, please.
    46        A.  The EHOs and the meat inspectors at the moment come
    47        under each borough throughout the land.  They are paid for
    48        by the borough out of the rates and they work alongside the
    49        veterinary officers.  It has been decided to set up a
    50        National Meat Inspection Service which I am pretty sure 
    51        comes into effect on 1st April.  It will be headquartered 
    52        in York, administered from York, and all meat inspectors 
    53        will be transferred from the boroughs to a national
    54        inspectorate in order that we can get a national high
    55        standard.
    56
    57   Q.   Was it felt then that there were problems with the system
    58        as it was now?
    59        A.  Not problems with the system but, I mean, it is very
    60        difficult nationally in any discipline to get an equal