asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received an application, supported by the executive committee of the National Associations of Trade Unions in the Textile Trade, for a safeguarding duty on woollen dress goods?

I am afraid I must adhere to the established practice, which has frequently been referred to in the House, of not stating whether a particular industry has or has not made an application under the safeguarding procedure, except on the appointment of a committee of inquiry.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind, when he receives the application, that there were only 14 votes out of 200 people present, and that that does not represent the considered opinion of the quarter-of-a-million people concerned?

At the same time, does it not show that a certain amount of sense is beginning to percolate?