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 have underestimated threat posed by cyberattacks, MPs warn
13 May Security & Defence
Departments have underestimated threat posed by cyberattacks, MPs warn
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
13 May Communications
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
Call for 'bold investment decisions' to address prison crisis
12 May Justice & Home Affairs
Call for 'bold investment decisions' to address prison crisis
Sharma overrode value-for-money concerns on £400m investment in bankrupt satellite firm
23 Jul 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Sharma overrode value-for-money concerns on £400m investment in bankrupt satellite firm
Business secretary gave ministerial direction after perm sec flagged “significant downside risks” of OneWeb deal
HMRC Making Tax Digital to continue rollout in 2022
23 Jul 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC Making Tax Digital to continue rollout in 2022
The programme will be extended to all businesses and then to individuals, government has announced
Second government hub in Croydon gets go-ahead
23 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
Second government hub in Croydon gets go-ahead
GPA contractors begin work on Croydon hub, with Home Office officials to start move by 2024
Cabinet Office takes charge of government use of data again
23 Jul 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Cabinet Office takes charge of government use of data again
Move will ensure 'government departments and the decisions they make are properly joined up', Cabinet Office says
Treasury confirms £95k redundancy pay cap – one year on from consultation
22 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
Treasury confirms £95k redundancy pay cap – one year on from consultation
Treasury says government will take forward proposals to limit public sector payoffs
Home Office staff to undergo training on race in 'sweeping' post-Windrush reforms
22 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
Home Office staff to undergo training on race in 'sweeping' post-Windrush reforms
Home Office will also review hostile environment policy so “no one with a legal right to be here is wrongly penalised”
Don't expect big pay rises, Sunak warns civil servants as he kicks off Spending Review
22 Jul 2020 Finance
Don't expect big pay rises, Sunak warns civil servants as he kicks off Spending Review
Tough choices ahead, warns chancellor as he reveals what departments need to submit to the Treasury for CSR2020
PM unveils £350m decarbonisation push as he vows ‘green, sustainable recovery’ and ‘Jet Zero’ plane trial
22 Jul 2020
PM unveils £350m decarbonisation push as he vows ‘green, sustainable recovery’ and ‘Jet Zero’ plane trial
Boris Johnson launches UK bid for first zero-emissions long-haul passenger flight amid efforts to aid post-coronavirus economic recovery
Civil servants invited to air frustrations as Chisholm reveals 'prospectus for reform'
21 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
Civil servants invited to air frustrations as Chisholm reveals 'prospectus for reform'
"This is a call to join a movement, not a top-down initiative," COO tells officials
Senior civil servants to get 2% wage rise as public sector pay deals unveiled
21 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Senior civil servants to get 2% wage rise as public sector pay deals unveiled
Government also confirms delegated grades will allow departments to make awards within 1.5%-2.5% range
Chief nurse confirms she was dropped from No.10 briefing at height of Cummings row
20 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Chief nurse confirms she was dropped from No.10 briefing at height of Cummings row
Ruth May says "you would have to ask other people" why she was dropped, but confirms "the rules were clear"
'Misogyny' behind criticism of DIT perm sec Antonia Romeo, union chief says
20 Jul 2020 HR
'Misogyny' behind criticism of DIT perm sec Antonia Romeo, union chief says
Media has targeted "female candidate with a profile", FDA's Dave Penman says
At a glance: All the latest lockdown changes announced by Boris Johnson — including back-to-work rules, council powers and the return of theatre
20 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
At a glance: All the latest lockdown changes announced by Boris Johnson — including back-to-work rules, council powers and the return of theatre
On Friday morning, the prime minister held a press conference to announce the next batch of changes to coronavirus lockdown rules under the government’s “road map”. Here’s what‘s been promised.
Government has ‘scant idea’ whether £117bn a-year-tax reliefs are just ‘freebies’, MPs warn
20 Jul 2020 Government Tax Profession
Government has ‘scant idea’ whether £117bn a-year-tax reliefs are just ‘freebies’, MPs warn
HMRC does not “systematically” measure whether tax reliefs change behaviour in the way they are intended, PAC says
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — July 20
20 Jul 2020 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — July 20
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
BEIS names new permanent secretary
20 Jul 2020 HR
BEIS names new permanent secretary
Sarah Munby is government's youngest current perm sec
Matt Hancock orders urgent review into 'misleading' PHE coronavirus death statistics
17 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Matt Hancock orders urgent review into 'misleading' PHE coronavirus death statistics
Review comes after reports that all deaths of people who have tested positive for coronavirus are marked as Covid deaths, even if cause of death may be unrelated
MPs slam Boris Johnson’s ‘impulsive’ decision to merge DfID with the Foreign Office
17 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
MPs slam Boris Johnson’s ‘impulsive’ decision to merge DfID with the Foreign Office
Government urged to retain the ICAI aid watchdog after overseas aid department's abolition
Boris Johnson hands councils power to order local lockdowns as he floats coronavirus ‘normality’ by Christmas
17 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Boris Johnson hands councils power to order local lockdowns as he floats coronavirus ‘normality’ by Christmas
PM says that departments will discuss possible office returns with civil servants
Cabinet Office urged to review pay disparities of up to £56,000 for specialist staff
16 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office urged to review pay disparities of up to £56,000 for specialist staff
Pay flexibility so departments can recruit and retain staff prompts "workforce issues" and concern about "internal markets", NAO says
Data gaps holding back DIT's export strategy despite 'good start', NAO says
16 Jul 2020 Brexit
Data gaps holding back DIT's export strategy despite 'good start', NAO says
Unclear whether DIT has focused its efforts in regions and sectors where opportunities are greatest, watchdog finds
UK 5G network faces three-year delay and £2bn extra cost as government confirms Huawei expulsion
16 Jul 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
UK 5G network faces three-year delay and £2bn extra cost as government confirms Huawei expulsion
The Chinese tech vendor’s kit will be removed entirely by 2027, digital secretary Oliver Dowden has announced
Boris Johnson promises independent inquiry into Covid-19 response but says now is not the ‘right moment’
16 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Boris Johnson promises independent inquiry into Covid-19 response but says now is not the ‘right moment’
‘Of course we will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic in the future,’ says PM
NICS offers up to £190,000 for new chief to lead post-cash-for-ash reforms
16 Jul 2020 HR
NICS offers up to £190,000 for new chief to lead post-cash-for-ash reforms
Boosted salary offered for Northern Ireland Civil Service head who must help ensure the NICS “has the confidence and trust” of the public