265
Written Answers
16 NOVEMBER 1977 investigation by the Independent Com- mission Against Corruption in Hong Kong at present.
Dr. Owen: Seven cases in which there are allegations of conspiracy by police officers to accept bribes are under investi- gation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if police officers already being interviewed or investigated by the Independent Com- mission Against Corruption are included in the recent amnesty.
Dr. Owen: A suspect who has already been interviewed by the Commission is excluded if allegations that he has com- mitted an offence were put to him before 5th November 1977.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if persons who have had warrants issued for their arrest under the Independent Commission Against Corruption ordinan- ance are included in the recent amnesty.
Dr. Owen: No.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what offences are excluded from the recent amnesty declared in Hong Kong.
Dr. Owen: The terms of the Governor's announcement are that the Independent Commission Against Corruption will not take action on complaints or evidence re- lating to corruption offences committed before 1st January 1977 unless: (a) the suspect was interviewed by the Commis- sion before 5th November 1977 and alle- gations that he had committed an offence were put to him or; (b) a warrant of arrest had been issued before 5th Novem- ber 1977 or; (c) the suspect was out of Hong Kong on 5th November 1977 or; (d) it is a case which the Governor considers to be particularly heinous.
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what provisions of which ordinance the recent offer of amnesty on corruption cases in Hong Kong was made.
Mr. Luard: The Governor relied on his general authority to give orders and
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266
directions to the Commissioner Against Corruption under Article 5 of the Indepen- dent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance.
PRICES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
Transport Users' Consultative Committees
61. Mr. David Hunt asked the Secre- tary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he is satisfied with the working of transport users' consulta- tive committees; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. John Fraser: The rôle of the trans- port users' consultative committees is currently under consideration in the light of the National Consumer Council's re- port on Consumers and the Nationalised Industries and of the White Paper on Transport Policy. The issues and the necessary
consultations involved complex, and the Government are not yet in a position to make a statement.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Income Tax
are
Mr. Ralph Howell asked the Chancel- lor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of allowing hus- band and wife to treat their respective incomes as if shared equally between them for tax purposes: (a) in every case and (b) only where there are dependent children.
Mr. Robert Sheldon: If the total in- come of (a) all married couples, (b) mar- ried couples with dependent children," including those where the wife has no earned income of her own, were split equally between husband and wife the loss of revenue in 1977-78 would be (a) £600 million and (b) £400 million. The calculations assume that
1. Husband and wife are taxed separately whether or not this is beneficial in the indi- vidual case, and are each entitled to a full basic rate band;
2. Each receives a single personal allowance of £945-or £1,250, where either is 65 or over-plus half of any other allowances due to the couple.
Mr. Newton asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the countries
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