In a Special Report published in CSW on 25 September, we examined 12 major projects: three each from the defence, transport, health, and work & pensions departments. We chose projects of a range of types, and covering the ‘traffic light’ risk spectrum from green to red. The text below covers one of the four departments: click here to read our introduction and methodology.

The Freedom of Information Act isn’t popular in Whitehall, but information commissioner Christopher Graham tells Joshua Chambers that the criticisms are misplaced: the real problem is poor info security and data losses

To cure the lobbying industry of all its scandals, the government has prescribed a bill. But as Winnie Agbonlahor finds, the bill as it stands will have little impact on most lobbyists – and is thus unlikely to heal the patient

This week’s interviewee is a biomedical technician looking after ward-based medical equipment in an urban area hospital.

NHS chief Sir David Nicholson has faced a storm of criticism in recent months as concerns over care quality have rocked hospitals across the country. He tells Suzannah Brecknell of his determination to fix the problems

From unemployment to drug addiction, the public sector’s approach to helping families with multiple problems has often been fragmented. Joshua Chambers explores the new government scheme to unite these efforts

The separation between British health and social care has survived far longer than the iron curtain that divided Europe for 44 years. Winnie Agbonlahor looks at the government’s latest efforts to marry the two core services.

As director general of the Attorney General’s Office, Rowena Collins Rice sits at the legal heart of Whitehall. She tells Matt Ross about the Leveson Inquiry, Freedom of Information and overseeing government legal issues

Departments seem to be making good progress towards government’s goal of spending a quarter of its money with small businesses by 2015. But as Colin Marrs digs into the figures, a more complex picture emerges

Behind the debate around constitutional reform and outsourcing policy work, another major change to policymaking has occurred almost unremarked. Ruth Levitt and William Solesbury take a look at the tsars phenomenon.

Central government is dependent on local authorities for many aspects of service delivery, but the working relationship is often a difficult one. Jon Stone hears council officials’ views of their Whitehall counterparts.

An NHS worker warns that gains in mental health care must be defended by focusing on staff retention.

Are you thinking as far ahead as the best brains in business? Suzannah Brecknell, listening in at Civil Service Live, heard from the men who argue that your country needs you to keep your eyes on the far horizon.

This year the House of Commons is celebrating the passage of 650 years since it appointed its first clerk. Winnie Agbonlahor speaks to the incumbent, Sir Robert Rogers, about combining the ancient and the contemporary

The UK has long had a strong space industry but, until recently, government support for it was small-scale and fragmented. David Parker, UK Space Agency chief executive, tells Joshua Chambers how things have changed.

Rob Whiteman joined the civil service two years ago, as the UKBA chief; now he’s leaving. He tells Matt Ross about the need for delivery skills, the Brodie Clark affair, and life as a ‘transplant’ into the Whitehall machine

The health and business departments are behind a big push to help Britain’s life sciences sector realise its economic potential. Joshua Chambers examines the treatments given, and the progress of the patient so far.

Sometimes, a struggle persists from one generation to the next. Picking through newly-released National Archives files dating back 30 years, Winnie Agbonlahor finds that many of Thatcher’s battles still hold resonance today.

Recognition of the Operational Delivery profession has changed attitudes to frontline staff. Jon Stone reports

The Troubled Families team was a rare winner in the spending review. Richard Welbirg learns how they’ll spend it

The National Archives are today releasing official records dating back 30 years. Winnie Agbonlahor looks at how civil service reform has evolved over the years - and finds much that is familiar

The head of a college for disabled students warns that policies must recognise the very diverse challenges facing people with special needs

A pledge to lift all children out of poverty by 2020 faces headwinds in public perceptions, Winnie Agbonlahor finds out more

In a rare public appearance at Civil Service Live earlier this month a GCHQ official warned civil servants about IT security. Joshua Chambers listened in