The hon. Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Mr. Harris) made reference to the fact that we seemed to have moved rather far from lace, at any rate during that part of the discussion for which he was responsible, and may I congratulate him upon that fact? After all, this is a big Debate upon the trade of the country as a whole. The Safeguarded industries constitute altogether only some eight or nine out of the 50 industries that made application for Safeguarding, and of those eight or nine the total imports and exports amount to only 1 per cent., or 2 per cent. at the most, of the total imports and exports of the land. One therefore would have expected to hear from the Conservative party, had they been genuinely concerned about the trade of the country in its present difficulties, some further reference to the issues of business than that for which the hon. Baronet was responsible, for he devoted the whole of his speech practically to the question of the lace industry of Nottingham.

One understands why this is so. The Tory party is thinking, not about the trade of the country, but about a passing political advantage which is, as they think, to be obtained in a by-election that is proceeding. They use an important occasion like this, on which arises consideration of the whole of the work for which the President of the Board of Trade is responsible, merely to grind a political axe and for a purely temporary advantage. I do not object to them taking that line. The hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Sir H. Betterton) made some references to the necessity of certain of my hon. Friends going down to Nottingham. He seemed to think they would learn much if they went down. I agree that they will. I have the honour to come fresh from Nottingham, where I spoke last night, and I recommend as many of my hon. Friends to go there as can go. They will have a very good time if they do.