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
Departments ‘struggling to keep pace’ with reducing violence against women and girls
16 May Justice & Home Affairs
Departments ‘struggling to keep pace’ with reducing violence against women and girls
DWP reverses ban on ChatGPT and other generative AI tools
16 May Digital, Data & Technology
DWP reverses ban on ChatGPT and other generative AI tools
CMA told to prioritise economic growth in priority 'reset'
16 May Economy
CMA told to prioritise economic growth in priority 'reset'
Home Office in Covid alert after policing minister tests positive
22 Mar 2021 Coronavirus
Home Office in Covid alert after policing minister tests positive
Deep cleaning initiated after minister receives positive test notification at his desk
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — March 22
22 Mar 2021 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — March 22
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
'No dilution' of ethical standards in government, Sedwill insists
22 Mar 2021 HR
'No dilution' of ethical standards in government, Sedwill insists
Former cabinet secretary admits some decisions during Covid pandemic may not stand up to scrutiny but says controversies go in "cycles"
Ministers launch new drive to find next NI civil service chief
19 Mar 2021 HR
Ministers launch new drive to find next NI civil service chief
Stormont offers up to £190k for rejigged role that will be assisted by new “chief operating officer”
MPs find government has ‘presented pandemic data to provoke anxiety, rather than understand risk’
19 Mar 2021 Coronavirus
MPs find government has ‘presented pandemic data to provoke anxiety, rather than understand risk’
Parliamentary committee calls for more transparency in use of information and accuses Michael Gove of being ‘contemptuous of parliament’
Cabinet Office and FCDO ‘grappling’ over China policy, says ex-perm sec
19 Mar 2021 Security & Defence
Cabinet Office and FCDO ‘grappling’ over China policy, says ex-perm sec
Simon McDonald tells committee departments each have claim to lead on UK approach to world’s second-largest economy
Dominic Cummings rails against Treasury for ‘horrific’ impact on science funding
19 Mar 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
Dominic Cummings rails against Treasury for ‘horrific’ impact on science funding
Advanced Research and Invention Agency needs “extreme freedom” from civil service bureaucracy, procurement rules, business cases and pay scales says PM’s former chief spad
Public services 'face second dose of austerity' to meet Sunak's spending cuts
18 Mar 2021 Economy
Public services 'face second dose of austerity' to meet Sunak's spending cuts
Chancellor’s spending plans "even tighter than they first appeared”, IFS warns
Departments will have to fight to keep big in-house comms teams in shake-up
18 Mar 2021 Communications
Departments will have to fight to keep big in-house comms teams in shake-up
Union says it has been warned a voluntary redundancy scheme is part of ministers' plans for centralised media service
Downing Street fellowship hopes to lure ‘top tech talent’ to Whitehall for a year
18 Mar 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
Downing Street fellowship hopes to lure ‘top tech talent’ to Whitehall for a year
GDS backs programme to bring in 10 tech experts
Cummings says reform of 'disaster zone' civil service was a condition for entering No.10
18 Mar 2021 Civil Service Reform
Cummings says reform of 'disaster zone' civil service was a condition for entering No.10
PM's former top aide tells MPs Department of Health had to be bypassed for coronavirus Vaccine Taskforce
Prisons chief Jo Farrar promoted to MoJ second perm sec
17 Mar 2021 Justice & Home Affairs
Prisons chief Jo Farrar promoted to MoJ second perm sec
Newly-created role brings together responsibility for HM Prison and Probation Service and three other delivery agencies
Dido Harding appointment may expose regulatory gaps says First Civil Service Commissioner
17 Mar 2021 Health & Social Care
Dido Harding appointment may expose regulatory gaps says First Civil Service Commissioner
Ian Watmore tells MPs there is a case for reviewing whether NHS Test and Trace role handed to Conservative peer demonstrates “cracks” in the system
Civil service should not lead harassment investigations into former Scottish Government ministers, says review
17 Mar 2021 HR
Civil service should not lead harassment investigations into former Scottish Government ministers, says review
Report by makes a number of recommendations, and effectively calls for the procedure to be replaced
Integrated review: ‘Guide for action’ sets out cross-Whitehall reforms
17 Mar 2021 Security & Defence
Integrated review: ‘Guide for action’ sets out cross-Whitehall reforms
Document sets direction of travel to 2030 “including in departments that would not previously have been considered part of the national security community”
DHSC to pay search firm £1m for interim staff to set up Hancock's new health body
17 Mar 2021 Commercial
DHSC to pay search firm £1m for interim staff to set up Hancock's new health body
Five interim staff will fill finance-oriented roles at the National Institute for Health Protection
PM sets out 10-year foreign-policy vision for ‘increased international activism’
16 Mar 2021 Security & Defence
PM sets out 10-year foreign-policy vision for ‘increased international activism’
Integrated review of security and defence eyes “tilt to the Indo-Pacific” and new tech hubs
Next immigration watchdog appointed despite opposition from MPs
16 Mar 2021 HR
Next immigration watchdog appointed despite opposition from MPs
Home affairs committee refused to endorse David Neal, citing "insufficiently robust" recruitment process
Cabinet Office seeks views on controversial vaccine passport plans
16 Mar 2021 Coronavirus
Cabinet Office seeks views on controversial vaccine passport plans
Michael Gove acknowledges “complex issues of ethics, privacy and inclusion” in pandemic recovery
DfT calls in consultants to manage construction on Kent border posts
16 Mar 2021 Brexit
DfT calls in consultants to manage construction on Kent border posts
£1.2m contract signed as team managing projects, including Operation Brock site, lacks "capacity or capability" to deliver, DfT says
Ministers commit to banning gay conversion therapy after advisers quit
15 Mar 2021 HR
Ministers commit to banning gay conversion therapy after advisers quit
Three members of government LGBT+ advisory panel have quit, citing a "lack of engagement" and "hostility" towards LGBT+ people
Departments to beef up civil service presence in Birmingham, Leeds and Scotland
15 Mar 2021 Civil Service Reform
Departments to beef up civil service presence in Birmingham, Leeds and Scotland
DfT opens new offices in English cities, while Cabinet Office and FCDO look north of the border
DCMS urged to speed up pandemic aid payments to arts and heritage sector
15 Mar 2021 Culture
DCMS urged to speed up pandemic aid payments to arts and heritage sector
National Audit Office says less than half of £1bn in grant funding earmarked for allocation via the government’s Culture Recovery Fund has so-far been paid out
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — March 15
15 Mar 2021 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — March 15
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People