(c) Assess Mr Hogg’s belief that employing child labour is ‘always ethically wrong’ from deontological and

teleological (consequentialist) ethical perspectives. (9 marks)

5 Jones and Cousin, a public quoted company, operate in twenty seven different countries and earn revenue and incur

costs in several currencies. The group develops, manufactures and markets products in the medical sector. The growth

of the group has been achieved by investment and acquisition. It is organised into three global business units which

manage their sales in international markets, and take full responsibility for strategy and business performance. Only

five per cent of the business is in the country of incorporation. Competition in the sector is quite fierce.

The group competes across a wide range of geographic and product markets and encourages its subsidiaries to

enhance local communities by reinvestment of profits in local educational projects. The group’s share of revenue in a

market sector is often determined by government policy. The markets contain a number of different competitors

including specialised and large international corporations. At present the group is awaiting regulatory approval for a

range of new products to grow its market share. The group lodges its patents for products and enters into legal

proceedings where necessary to protect patents. The products are sourced from a wide range of suppliers, who, once

approved both from a qualitative and ethical perspective, are generally given a long term contract for the supply of

goods. Obsolete products are disposed of with concern for the environment and the health of its customers, with

reusable materials normally being used. The industry is highly regulated in terms of medical and environmental laws

and regulations. The products normally carry a low health risk.

The Group has developed a set of corporate and social responsibility principles during the period which is the

responsibility of the Board of Directors. The Managing Director manages the risks arising from corporate and social

responsibility issues. The group wishes to retain and attract employees and follows policies which ensure equal

opportunity for all the employees. Employees are informed of management policies, and regularly receive in-house

training.

The Group enters into contracts for fixed rate currency swaps and uses floating to fixed rate interest rate swaps. The

cash flow effects of these swaps match the cash flows on the underlying financial instruments. All financial

instruments are accounted for as cash flow hedges. A significant amount of trading activity is denominated in the

Dinar and the Euro. The dollar is its functional currency.

Required:

(a) Describe the principles behind the Management Commentary discussing whether the commentary should be

mandatory or whether directors should be free to use their judgement as to what should be included in such

a commentary. (13 marks)

3 The ‘person specification’ is derived from the job description.

Required:

(a) Explain what is meant by the terms:

(i) ‘person specification’; (4 marks)

(d) Describe the three stages of a formal grievance interview that Oliver might seek with the appropriate partner

at Hoopers and Henderson following the formal procedure. (9 marks)

(ii) Write a letter to Donald advising him on the most tax efficient manner in which he can relieve the loss

incurred in the year to 31 March 2007. Your letter should briefly outline the types of loss relief available

and explain their relative merits in Donald’s situation. Assume that Donald will have no source of income

other than the business in the year of assessment 2006/07 and that any income he earned on a parttime

basis while at university was always less than his annual personal allowance. (9 marks)

Assume that the corporation tax rates and allowances for the financial year 2004 and the income tax rates

and allowances for 2004/05 apply throughout this question.

Relevant retail price index figures are:

January 1998 159·5

April 1998 162·6

4 (a) For this part, assume today’s date is 1 March 2006.

Bill and Ben each own 50% of the ordinary share capital in Flower Limited, an unquoted UK trading company

that makes electronic toys. Flower Limited was incorporated on 1 August 2005 with 1,000 ￡1 ordinary shares,

and commenced trading on the same day. The business has been successful, and the company has accumulated

a large cash balance of ￡180,000, which is to be used to purchase a new factory. However, Bill and Ben have

received an offer from a rival company, which they are considering. The offer provides Bill and Ben with two

alternative methods of payment for the purchase of their shares:

(i) ￡480,000 for the company, inclusive of the ￡180,000 cash balance.

(ii) ￡300,000 for the company assuming the cash available for the factory purchase is extracted prior to sale.

Bill and Ben each currently receive a gross salary of ￡3,750 per month from Flower Limited. Part of the offer

terms is that Bill and Ben would be retained as employees of the company on the same salary.

Neither Bill nor Ben has used any of their capital gains tax annual exemption for the tax year 2005/06.

Required:

(i) Calculate which of the following means of extracting the ￡180,000 from Flower Limited on 31 March

2006 will result in the highest after tax cash amount for Bill and Ben:

(1) payment of a dividend, or

(2) payment of a salary bonus.

You are not required to consider the corporation tax (CT) implications for Flower Limited in your

answer. (5 marks)

Assume that the rates and allowances for 2004/05 apply throughout this part.

(b) Explain the consequences of filing the VAT returns late and advise Fred how he should deal with the

underpayment and bad debt for VAT purposes. Your explanation should be supported by relevant

calculations. (10 marks)

(c) Explain how absolutist (dogmatic) and relativist (pragmatic) ethical assumptions would affect the outcome

of Anne’s decision. (6 marks)

(b) The Sarbanes-Oxley Act contains provisions for the attestation (verification) and reporting to shareholders of

internal controls over financial reporting.

Required:

Describe the typical contents of an external report on internal controls. (8 marks)