News

National Audit Office survey finds concern among government's digital leaders over their ability to recruit and retain staff – but there's support for many Cabinet Office intiatives to sharpen tech skills

The Spending Review has left departments with little option but to transform their operations, says the Centre for Public Impact's Adrian Brown – the question now is how that happens

Amid reports chancellor looking to cut voluntary civil service redundancy payouts by a further six months – a move first floated in 2010 – unions warn of "war by the government against its own staff"

Strongly-worded report by the National Audit Office public spending watchdog finds cost estimates rose by 40% — but Defra defends handling of the “most complex ever” EU rural payments scheme

As first civil service commissioner, it’s Sir David Normington’s job to ensure civil servants are appointed on merit — but the commission also tries to ensure that the values of honesty, impartiality, integrity and objectivity are upheld. And, as Normington writes, those values are one of the civil service’s major selling points

Former head of the civil service drafts in TUC chief Frances O'Grady and ex-KPMG deputy Alan Buckle to assess whether the Treasury is "fit for purpose"

New 'specialist' payscale to help recruitment, staff cuts at the Cabinet Office, Single Departmental Plans, the future of civil service reform, details on a brand new leadership academy – as the civil service chief executive and minister for the Cabinet Office face MPs, CSW tries to keep up...

PCS union accuses driver agency of "petty-minded response" to staff who took earlier strike action

Former Ministry of Justice permanent secretary says technology-enabled flexible working can help disabled civil servants progress in their careers, even in an era of prolonged cut-backs

As the dust settles on the Spending Review, the founder of Tony Blair's Downing Street Delivery Unit Sir Michael Barber assesses the implications for good government, looks ahead to the new Single Departmental Plans – and says it's time for a rethink to ensure the civil service can continue to attract top talent

Chief executive of the Defence Equipment and Support agency says fresh Trident cost estimates are proof of an end to a culture in which the MoD has been "unrealistic about the numbers"

Institute for Fiscal Studies says talk of "end to austerity" is premature

Foreign Affairs Committee chair Crispin Blunt welcomes “better outcome than had been feared” for the FCO

Chancellor eyes more austerity in first interview since yesterday’s cuts announcements – while the IFS says departmental settlement is "very, very tight"

Fiscal watchdog predicts 0.1m drop in public sector workforce by 2020, but says pay restraint will reduce need for cuts

Reaction to the chancellor's Spending Review from Peter Riddell, Matthew Taylor, Dave Penman, Mark Serwotka, Garry Graham and Carolyn Fairbairn

The Prime Minister described top official as “somewhere between a brother and a father” to all in the Number 10 team

GDS to get an extra £450m, Spending Review confirms

Comprehensive Spending Review eyes raft of efficiency-focused changes across government, including a review of sickness absence and cuts to the DWP estate. Here are the key details

Topline departmental figures from the chancellor's Comprehensive Spending Review

Live: Rolling coverage of the Comprehensive Spending Review and Autumn Statement provided by CSW's sister title PoliticsHome

Ministers reportedly seeking vote on the self-imposed welfare cap after tax credits rethink

CSW rounds up the big Spending Review stories and analysis ahead of the chancellor's statement to the Commons at 12:30pm

How smart is your team? Bruce Mann, executive director of the Government Property Unit, on the importance of smart working and how the civil service is celebrating and supporting teams who want to adopt it