Part of Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 July 1947.
Mr Hugh Dalton
, Bishop Auckland
12:00,
8 July 1947
The evidence which the hon. Member has sent me refers to the price of sterling notes abroad, whereas my answer to him last Tuesday referred to the price of sterling on bank accounts, in which the vast Majority of transactions are settled. The price of sterling notes abroad is usually below the official- rate, because, except for the £20 allowed to travellers, these notes may not legally leave or enter the United Kingdom.
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.
