Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Defence. – in the House of Commons at on 14 December 1939.
Major-General Sir Alfred Knox
, Wycombe
asked the Home Secretary whether the 13 regional commissioners, salary £2,500 a year, and the 12 deputy regional commissioners, salary £1,000 a year, have commenced work, and what their present duties are?
Sir John Anderson
, Combined Scottish Universities
Regional commissioners and deputy regional commissioners were instructed on 25th August last to take up duty at their headquarters, and they have since been employed on their duties. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Peckham (Mr. Silkin) on Tuesday last.
Major-General Sir Alfred Knox
, Wycombe
As these gentlemen have not begun their proper duties yet, might they not be content with half pay until their duties commence?
Sir John Anderson
, Combined Scottish Universities
The great Majority of them are receiving no pay at all, at their own request.
The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.
