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
Defra announces closure of Newcastle office
15 May Energy & Environment
Defra announces closure of Newcastle office
Treasury appoints new second perm sec to support economic growth mission
15 May Economics
Treasury appoints new second perm sec to support economic growth mission
Civil servants 'are hungry for reform': Union boss urges ministers to set clear plan
14 May Civil Service Reform
Civil servants 'are hungry for reform': Union boss urges ministers to set clear plan
Government renews powers for long-term withholding of public records on national security grounds
09 Mar 2022 Security & Defence
Government renews powers for long-term withholding of public records on national security grounds
Longstanding Security and Intelligence Instrument been retained after completion of its decennial review
Home Office to open 'pop-up' visa centre for fleeing Ukrainians in Lille
08 Mar 2022 Foreign Affairs
Home Office to open 'pop-up' visa centre for fleeing Ukrainians in Lille
The Home Office has faced growing criticism over its resettling of eligible Ukrainians in Britain
'There is something wrong with the way Whitehall does policy': Ex-DfE perm sec blasts ‘reality disconnect’
08 Mar 2022 Operational Delivery
'There is something wrong with the way Whitehall does policy': Ex-DfE perm sec blasts ‘reality disconnect’
Jonathan Slater says policymakers should have frontline delivery experience and be rewarded for results on the ground
EXCL: DWP exploring capability-based pay reform Exclusive
08 Mar 2022 HR
EXCL: DWP exploring capability-based pay reform
Department investigates pay models that would help it “grow in the marketplace as a place of choice for employees”
Watchdog to carry out review into 'most important' ethical standard in public life
08 Mar 2022 HR
Watchdog to carry out review into 'most important' ethical standard in public life
Review will encourage organisations to take “ethical health-check” and examine importance of leadership in upholding standards
Government ‘turning blind eye’ to new parents’ needs amid Covid recovery
07 Mar 2022 Coronavirus
Government ‘turning blind eye’ to new parents’ needs amid Covid recovery
Petitions Committee says “continued lack of action” leaves new parents’ needs “unrecognised and unmet”
Minister defends Home Office support for Ukraine refugees despite only 50 visas granted so far
07 Mar 2022 Foreign Affairs
Minister defends Home Office support for Ukraine refugees despite only 50 visas granted so far
Foreign Affairs Committee chair says visa scheme "is certainly not a success" as Cleverly defends response
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – March 7
07 Mar 2022 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – March 7
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
‘She has the experience and independence of judgement needed’: Gisela Stuart confirmed as first civil service commissioner
04 Mar 2022 HR
‘She has the experience and independence of judgement needed’: Gisela Stuart confirmed as first civil service commissioner
Vote Leave chair’s controversial appointment goes ahead
Changes to pension scheme regs will be ‘implemented by April’
04 Mar 2022 Finance
Changes to pension scheme regs will be ‘implemented by April’
Treasury says departments will publish McCloud remedy consultation feedback this month
Cabinet Office anti-misinformation unit buys £75k ‘social listening tool’
04 Mar 2022 Communications
Cabinet Office anti-misinformation unit buys £75k ‘social listening tool’
Rapid Response Unit's deal with software firm gives officials access to "unlimited searches"
Grenfell Inquiry: DCLG ‘acted too slowly’ on coroner’s concerns
03 Mar 2022 Local & Devolved
Grenfell Inquiry: DCLG ‘acted too slowly’ on coroner’s concerns
Official tells probe ministers were not pushed for speedy response after fatal 2009 south London fire
DWP accused of 'culture of secrecy' after blocking access to benefit sanctions data
03 Mar 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
DWP accused of 'culture of secrecy' after blocking access to benefit sanctions data
Glasgow study into the link between sanctions and health issues halted after department refused to release data
DWP offers £120k a year for next comms chief
03 Mar 2022 Communications
DWP offers £120k a year for next comms chief
Recruitment campaign follows Lisa Hunter’s move to the Government Communication Service
Home Office helpline ‘was not ready' to help Ukrainian refugees come to the UK after visas extended
02 Mar 2022 Foreign Affairs
Home Office helpline ‘was not ready' to help Ukrainian refugees come to the UK after visas extended
Home Office encouraged people who met the new criteria to call a helpline but now says the scheme will open on Friday
Government can achieve levelling up agenda without new cash, perm sec says
02 Mar 2022 Finance
Government can achieve levelling up agenda without new cash, perm sec says
Andy Haldane says government can instead “tilt” existing budgets “in the direction of poorer areas”
'Broken' pay at Natural England 'putting net-zero goals at risk'
02 Mar 2022 Energy & Environment
'Broken' pay at Natural England 'putting net-zero goals at risk'
Union says real-terms wages have fallen by 20% in a decade, while stress is rising
Government ‘doesn’t know’ what net-zero goal will cost or how to pay for it, MPs warn
02 Mar 2022 Energy & Environment
Government ‘doesn’t know’ what net-zero goal will cost or how to pay for it, MPs warn
Report comes as IPCC warns of potential for “irreversible” damage over next 20 years
Boris Johnson promises to make it easier for Ukrainians with relatives in the UK to get visas
01 Mar 2022 Foreign Affairs
Boris Johnson promises to make it easier for Ukrainians with relatives in the UK to get visas
Amid confusion over what the current policy is to support Ukrainian refugees, Priti Patel is expected to give an update today
Space science grant programme supports atomic clocks and hair-breadth mirrors
01 Mar 2022 Security & Defence
Space science grant programme supports atomic clocks and hair-breadth mirrors
UKRI hands out almost £500k to research institutions and specialist firms
Grenfell Inquiry: ex-DCLG official denies ‘catastrophic’ test was covered up
01 Mar 2022 Local & Devolved
Grenfell Inquiry: ex-DCLG official denies ‘catastrophic’ test was covered up
Former head of technical policy says guidance was clear to professionals that combustible cladding should not be used on high-rise buildings
Ex-Government Finance Function chief joins shared services provider – plus all the latest civil service & public affairs moves
28 Feb 2022 HR
Ex-Government Finance Function chief joins shared services provider – plus all the latest civil service & public affairs moves
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Boris Johnson reproached for 'selective use of data' on unemployment
28 Feb 2022 Coronavirus
Boris Johnson reproached for 'selective use of data' on unemployment
Statistics watchdog writes to PM for the second time this month after he claimed employment had risen
Foreign Office IT woes still causing 'chaos' as Ukraine war unfolds
28 Feb 2022 Digital, Data & Technology
Foreign Office IT woes still causing 'chaos' as Ukraine war unfolds
Problems caused by failure to integrate FCO and DfID IT systems slowing down work, insiders say