asked Her Majesty's Government:What information the Secretary of State for the Environment has received from the chairman of the Hertfordshire Federation of Gipsy Support Groups regarding harassment of gipsies in Hertfordshire by the police; and what reply he has made.

Since November, 1970, the Chairman of the Federation has written four times alleging that the Hertfordshire police are constantly moving on gipsies who are camping unlawfully. Three of the letters enclosed copies of complaints made by the Federation to the Chief Constable of Hertfordshire and the fourth a copy of a complaint to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The replies have been to the effect that the Department of the Environment has urged local authorities to refrain from moving on gipsies needlessly when there are insufficient lawful encampments for them; that Hertfordshire County Council are among the foremost authorities in the country in providing caravan sites for gipsies; and that the Department of the Environment cannot comment on the actions of the police as this is a matter for the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What cultural activities they have planned for celebrating the entry of the United Kingdom into the E.E.C.

Plans have not yet been finalised, but a committee under the chairmanship of Lord Goodman is organising a programme of artistic events in the United Kingdom in January, 1973. The cost to Her Majesty's Government of the programme will not exceed £250,000. A Supplementary Estimate will be submitted for approval to Parliament. It is envisaged that private organisations and local authorities will also organise appropriate activities.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will make a Statement on the current state of progress on implementing the Fulton Report.

My Lords, a fourth Report by the Joint Committee of the National Whitley Council entitled, The Shape of the Post-Fulton Civil Service, will be issued to-morrow. I am arranging for copies to be available in the Printed Paper Office to-night.

The Report opens with a summary of the broad position reached on post-Fulton work as it affects staff. It then describes progress in the restructuring of the Civil Service and on the abolition of classes. Down to and including Under Secretary level a scheme of unified grading has been introduced. Below that level it is proposed to concentrate resources at the present time on the extension of the system of broad categories and occupational groups (which has already been introduced for over half the non-industrial Civil Service) and on the development of personnel management practices aimed at flexibile deployment of staff in the interests of efficiency and personal development.The Report also describes other important developments in personnel management, including training. Finally, it refers to progress made on recuitment, describes the new system for premature retirement, and reports on proposals for improving the working environment in the Civil Service. The Report will be widely distributed within the Civil Service with a view to discussion at the Annual Conferences of the Staff Associations to be held in the late spring.House adjourned at twenty-six minutes before ten o'clock.