Ministerial directions and a 'powerful' board: Think tank's 'draft bill' sets out vision for statutory civil service
13 May Civil Service Reform

Ministerial directions and a 'powerful' board: Think tank's 'draft bill' sets out vision for statutory civil service

Cab sec would have responsibility for appointment and performance management of perm secs under IfG proposals
by Tevye Markson
GDS seeks two leaders to 'pilot and scale AI projects' and 'incubate service journey transformation'
14 May Digital, Data & Technology
GDS seeks two leaders to 'pilot and scale AI projects' and 'incubate service journey transformation'
London-based civil service headcount to be cut by 12,000
14 May Civil Service Reform
London-based civil service headcount to be cut by 12,000
Civil service AI tool for consultation analysis passes first public test
14 May Digital, Data & Technology
Civil service AI tool for consultation analysis passes first public test
Treasury perm sec predicts NAO will reject next Whole of Government Accounts
24 Jan Finance
Treasury perm sec predicts NAO will reject next Whole of Government Accounts
Missing data likely to mean 2023-24 figures will fail to achieve sign-off, just like 2022-23 accounts
Starmer vows to curb 'NIMBY' legal challenges to infrastructure projects
23 Jan Legal
Starmer vows to curb 'NIMBY' legal challenges to infrastructure projects
Planning reforms will give campaigners just one chance to challenge major projects in the courts, PM says
PAC chair defends criticism of HMRC’s customer service approach
23 Jan Government Tax Profession
PAC chair defends criticism of HMRC’s customer service approach
Committee chair and HMRC perm sec exchange letters over scathing report
Difficulty recruiting property specialists hindering maintenance of public buildings, NAO warns
22 Jan Property & Estates
Difficulty recruiting property specialists hindering maintenance of public buildings, NAO warns
Watchdog cites low pay compared to private sector as key reason for vacancies
Experienced government reformer picked for immigration watchdog role
22 Jan HR
Experienced government reformer picked for immigration watchdog role
John Tuckett named as government's preferred candidate for ICIBI
‘Baseless’: Jim Harra slams claim HMRC deliberately provided poor customer service
22 Jan Government Tax Profession
‘Baseless’: Jim Harra slams claim HMRC deliberately provided poor customer service
PAC report says HMRC has been “too willing to let its telephone services fail in the hope this forces people to use its digital services instead”
Ministers oust CMA chair
22 Jan HR
Ministers oust CMA chair
Marcus Bokkerink has been replaced by former Amazon UK head Doug Gurr
Uncompetitive tech salaries hindering recruitment, retention – and missions, report warns
21 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
Uncompetitive tech salaries hindering recruitment, retention – and missions, report warns
Expanding framework that allows for tech salary boosts among recommendations in new report
DSIT previews 'Humphrey' AI package for civil servants in £45bn productivity drive
21 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
DSIT previews 'Humphrey' AI package for civil servants in £45bn productivity drive
Government chief digital officer set to be recruited as a second permanent secretary at department
Office for Value for Money 'understaffed, poorly defined' and at risk of duplicating work, MPs say
21 Jan Finance
Office for Value for Money 'understaffed, poorly defined' and at risk of duplicating work, MPs say
Treasury Committee says OVfM must publish more information on its plans and how it will interact with other government organisations
NISTA: PM sets out machinery of government changes underpinning new infrastructure body
21 Jan Civil Service Reform
NISTA: PM sets out machinery of government changes underpinning new infrastructure body
Responsibility for IPA’s functions and responsibilities will move to the Treasury when NISTA gets up and running
Home Office sets out changes to EU Settlement Scheme process
21 Jan Brexit
Home Office sets out changes to EU Settlement Scheme process
Watchdog the IMA lauds department's update for clarity on citizens'-rights entitlements
Northern Ireland civil servants set to get 9% pay rise
20 Jan HR
Northern Ireland civil servants set to get 9% pay rise
Pay offer covers August 2024 to March 2026
MPs question HMRC's status as a non-ministerial department
20 Jan Civil Service Reform
MPs question HMRC's status as a non-ministerial department
Minister James Murray insists he wants tax agency to "take more risks" and get out of its "comfort zone"
Tories seek investigation into claim Angela Rayner asked officials to help her move
20 Jan Politics & Constitution
Tories seek investigation into claim Angela Rayner asked officials to help her move
Opposition also make ministerial code breach claims over David Lammy and Steve Reed speeches
GMPP: Number of red-rated major government projects grows
20 Jan Analysis
GMPP: Number of red-rated major government projects grows
High inflation, challenging net-zero targets and skills shortages among causes of increase in red-rated major projects
Most officials do not feel their role has become mission-focused, CSW survey finds
20 Jan HR
Most officials do not feel their role has become mission-focused, CSW survey finds
Just 17% of civil servants polled in CSW’s 2024 trust survey say their work is now "mission-focused"
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – Dec 20-Jan 20
20 Jan HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – Dec 20-Jan 20
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs in the last month, via Dods People
HMRC 'could get further headcount boost' to cut tax gap, minister says
17 Jan Finance
HMRC 'could get further headcount boost' to cut tax gap, minister says
James Murray tells MPs department was under-staffed by the previous government
Ministers sidestep ‘most important’ recommendation from first Covid Inquiry report
17 Jan Civil Service Reform
Ministers sidestep ‘most important’ recommendation from first Covid Inquiry report
Government agrees "broadly" with panel's proposals, but swerves several key suggestions
Tech issues dog pre-recorded NICS job interviews, minister confirms
17 Jan HR
Tech issues dog pre-recorded NICS job interviews, minister confirms
Figures also reveal hike in agency staff use at Northern Ireland departments
Proportion of officials leaving the civil service falls – but churn remains high
16 Jan HR
Proportion of officials leaving the civil service falls – but churn remains high
Internal transfers hit a record high last year, IfG's Whitehall Monitor report shows
DCMS and DSIT to revise gender reassignment policy in tribunal settlement
16 Jan Civil Service Reform
DCMS and DSIT to revise gender reassignment policy in tribunal settlement
Departments agree to pay out £116k to bring end to employment tribunal dispute brought by ex-employee over “sustained pattern of unfair treatment”
The civil servant who spied for the Soviet Union for 15 years – MI5 files declassified
16 Jan Foreign Affairs
The civil servant who spied for the Soviet Union for 15 years – MI5 files declassified
Infamous Soviet spy and former FCDO, Cabinet Office and HMT official’s first confession made public