asked the Minister of Labour the number of unemployed signing the register at the following places: Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, Cockfield, Stanhope, Wolsingham, Esh Winning, Lanchester and St. John's Chapel, in county Durham, on 1st June, 1931, and let June, 1932?

The following table gives the information desired, so far as available:

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the five-months' delay which arose in publishing the report of Lieut.-Colonel A. H. L. Mount on the Dagenham railway accident of 18th December, 1931, arrangements can be made for more prompt publication of similar reports in the future?

There was no avoidable delay in the publication of this report. In addition to the evidence obtained at the inquiry into the immediate circumstances of an accident, it is frequently necessary to make further investigations into the conditions leading up to an accident and the possibilities of effecting general improvement in such conditions. Such investigations, involving tests, inspections, and collation of data were necessary in the case in question, and it will be seen that a very considerable portion of the report is devoted to a general review of the question of the strength of wagon drawgear.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider the possibility of revising the present system of fees and free places in secondary schools so as to secure that the payments made by parents more nearly accord with what they might reasonably be expected to pay?

Yes, Sir. This is an important matter to which I am at present giving active consideration.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many draughtsmen are employed in the Department of the Chief Inspector of Armaments at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich; how long this Department has been in existence; and whether this Department carries out any other duties in addition to checking the drawings made in the drawing office of the Superintendent of Design?

The number of draughtsmen employed is 114. The Department, which has been in existence since 1888, carries out many important duties in addition to those mentioned in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of Scottish counties, with the names in each case, which are considering proposals for the combination of certain services common to the county and the burghs in the county?

I am sending the hon. and gallant Member a statement which contains the desired information.