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
MoD recruitment curb to last 18 months and cut headcount by up to 3,000
27 Jul 2023 Security & Defence
MoD recruitment curb to last 18 months and cut headcount by up to 3,000
Minister confirms plan to leave civil service roles unfilled to fund armed forces pay increases
Review aims to put DVLA on road to success
26 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
Review aims to put DVLA on road to success
Independent review, which comes after PAC criticisms of DVLA and DfT, is part of wider programme looking into effectiveness and efficiency of public bodies
‘Wholly unconvincing’: PACAC chair slams ministers' decision to block release of outcome delivery plans
26 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
‘Wholly unconvincing’: PACAC chair slams ministers' decision to block release of outcome delivery plans
William Wragg says “disappointing” choice will reduce ability of parliament and public to scrutinise departments’ plans
Delays, data gaps and reliability issues dog Whole of Government Accounts
26 Jul 2023 Finance
Delays, data gaps and reliability issues dog Whole of Government Accounts
NAO says HM Treasury needs to get a better understanding of why some public bodies are failing to submit their figures
Cabinet Office to change guidance used to block experts critical of government from speaking to civil servants
25 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office to change guidance used to block experts critical of government from speaking to civil servants
Ministers should get "serious" and ask independent body to review impartiality advice, academic argues
CMA halts performance-related pay in wake of discrimination case
25 Jul 2023 HR
CMA halts performance-related pay in wake of discrimination case
Pre-tribunal settlement leads Competition and Markets Authority to review performance development and reward structure to ensure equal treatment of employees
Office for Place set to Stoke levelling-up efforts
25 Jul 2023 Economics
Office for Place set to Stoke levelling-up efforts
Potteries-based arm’s-length body will ensure good design is at the heart of new housing developments, says Michael Gove
Government warned not to let big tech firms 'dictate' AI policy
24 Jul 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
Government warned not to let big tech firms 'dictate' AI policy
Report finds government is "largely reliant on external expertise from industry" to understand AI
Departments put off testing new emergency alert system for years
24 Jul 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
Departments put off testing new emergency alert system for years
Cabinet Office’s COBR Unit boss tells MPs technology advances and the arrival of Covid-19 prompted change of heart
Education secretary announces pick for next Ofsted chief
24 Jul 2023 Education
Education secretary announces pick for next Ofsted chief
Sir Martyn Oliver has “demonstrated exemplary leadership and an unwavering commitment to driving up standards in areas of disadvantage”, Gillian Keegan says
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 24
24 Jul 2023 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 24
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
Civil service terms and conditions to change in lobbying crackdown
21 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
Civil service terms and conditions to change in lobbying crackdown
Civil servants will also be under greater scrutiny over contact with lobbyists, in the government’s long awaited response to calls for reforms over lobbying rules
Cabinet Office slips out delayed data on government’s highest earners
21 Jul 2023 HR
Cabinet Office slips out delayed data on government’s highest earners
Spreadsheet reveals £20k pay rise for HS2 chief and shows COO Alex Chisholm now earns more than cabinet secretary Simon Case
'Whitehall speak' axed from some civil service job ads as part of new trial
21 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
'Whitehall speak' axed from some civil service job ads as part of new trial
Jeremy Quin also reveals how government is embracing AI, including a new permanent unit
Departments 'must follow SCS pay guidance in full' after 2022 divergence, Cabinet Office warns
21 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
Departments 'must follow SCS pay guidance in full' after 2022 divergence, Cabinet Office warns
SSRB said it was “extremely concerned” by departments' divergence from its recommendations last year
Tom Scholar sacking cost Treasury almost £500k, annual accounts reveal
21 Jul 2023 HR
Tom Scholar sacking cost Treasury almost £500k, annual accounts reveal
Document contains tributes to perm sec axed by Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng
Capability-based pay must reflect 'productivity, efficiency and delivery', says Cabinet Office minister
20 Jul 2023 HR
Capability-based pay must reflect 'productivity, efficiency and delivery', says Cabinet Office minister
Jeremy Quin says system can't be about rewarding officials for having more qualifications
Ministers must disclose job-offer chats to their perm sec, ethics chief tells MPs
20 Jul 2023 HR
Ministers must disclose job-offer chats to their perm sec, ethics chief tells MPs
But Laurie Magnus is coy about using his investigatory powers to probe misuse of statistics, even when UKSA sounds the alarm
Unions suspend CQC strikes after cost-of-living payment deal
20 Jul 2023 Health & Social Care
Unions suspend CQC strikes after cost-of-living payment deal
Healthcare regulator confirms staff will receive £1,500 one-off boost
Digital 'gurus' to be parachuted into government from private sector in secondment pilot
20 Jul 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
Digital 'gurus' to be parachuted into government from private sector in secondment pilot
Similar initiatives will be launched in areas including science and engineering
Case: More formalised process for perm sec exits would ‘benefit everyone’
19 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
Case: More formalised process for perm sec exits would ‘benefit everyone’
No question of poor performance by Tom Scholar prior to sacking, Case says
Sunak urged to give civil service vote of confidence
19 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
Sunak urged to give civil service vote of confidence
Constitutional reforms are needed to rebuild trust in the political system and restore relations between ministers and civil servants, researchers say
NAO details lessons from government procurement failings
19 Jul 2023 Commercial
NAO details lessons from government procurement failings
New report calls on departments to engage with suppliers more effectively, and follow guidance more consistently
DSIT plucks housing director general for key digital role
18 Jul 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
DSIT plucks housing director general for key digital role
Emran Mian takes over digital role from Susannah Storey, who has joined DCMS as its new permanent secretary