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
Jonathan Slater: I learned PM wanted me to leave DfE via the press Exclusive
29 Oct 2020 Education
Jonathan Slater: I learned PM wanted me to leave DfE via the press
Education secretary told ex-perm sec his job wasn't under threat days before he was asked to leave, he tells CSW in exclusive interview
Government analysis function launches first-ever awards
28 Oct 2020 Analysis
Government analysis function launches first-ever awards
Civil servants are invited to put themselves forward for five categories, including impact and communication
DIT 'failing to demonstrate measurable progress' four years after inception
28 Oct 2020 Finance
DIT 'failing to demonstrate measurable progress' four years after inception
MPs also criticise lack of "strategic alignment" with UK Export Finance
Government facing calls to tighten Covid restrictions as deaths hit their highest level since May
28 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Government facing calls to tighten Covid restrictions as deaths hit their highest level since May
Latest figures from government scientific advisers are ‘utterly bleak’, according to reports
Work begins on Peterborough hub as part of plans to move officials out of London
27 Oct 2020 Civil Service Reform
Work begins on Peterborough hub as part of plans to move officials out of London
Development forms part of government drive 'to spread jobs, growth and prosperity' across the country, Cabinet Office minister says
Government remains focused on levelling up despite Covid, insists minister
27 Oct 2020 Economy
Government remains focused on levelling up despite Covid, insists minister
Northern Conservative MPs write to PM urging the cost of Covid not to be paid for by downgrading the levelling-up agenda
HMRC 'could have done more' to prevent furlough fraud, NAO says
26 Oct 2020 Economics
HMRC 'could have done more' to prevent furlough fraud, NAO says
Watchdog also urges tax agency to ensure fewer people miss out on support under future schemes
Government has ‘misread the mood of the country’ on free school meals says ex-PACAC chair
26 Oct 2020 Education
Government has ‘misread the mood of the country’ on free school meals says ex-PACAC chair
Bernard Jenkin says PM’s refusal to extend scheme had become ‘a touchstone of how little faith a lot of people now have in the government's conduct’
HM Land Registry offers £120k for digital chief to lead transformation
26 Oct 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
HM Land Registry offers £120k for digital chief to lead transformation
Tech leader will oversee digitisation of platforms and infrastructure upgrades
Chisholm ‘open’ to the idea of creating a centralised civil service HR function
26 Oct 2020 Civil Service Reform
Chisholm ‘open’ to the idea of creating a centralised civil service HR function
Cabinet Office perm sec tells MPs he would be very willing to look into the case for a comms-style reorganisation of departmental personnel teams
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — October 26
26 Oct 2020 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — October 26
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
New cabinet secretary Simon Case acknowledges ‘gaps’ in his Whitehall CV
23 Oct 2020 HR
New cabinet secretary Simon Case acknowledges ‘gaps’ in his Whitehall CV
But nation’s top civil servant tells MPs he is satisfied he has the experience to stand up to ministers
Ministers and departments will be moved to 'great northern cities', PM says
23 Oct 2020 Commercial
Ministers and departments will be moved to 'great northern cities', PM says
Boris Johnson promises to "build back stronger, build back faster" as he says north faces greater "sacrifices and hardships" than elsewhere
Maude: It’s ‘a myth’ that the UK has the best civil service in the world
23 Oct 2020 Civil Service Reform
Maude: It’s ‘a myth’ that the UK has the best civil service in the world
Former Cabinet Office minister says service is a “deeply flawed institution” but accepts it has some great civil servants
Sunak sets out ‘significantly’ boosted job-support package as local lockdowns spread
22 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Sunak sets out ‘significantly’ boosted job-support package as local lockdowns spread
Chancellor’s £4.1bn pandemic aid proposals come one week after HM Treasury said existing measures “covered all bases”
Anger as Cabinet Office knocks back petition for 10% civil service pay rise
22 Oct 2020 Finance
Anger as Cabinet Office knocks back petition for 10% civil service pay rise
Union dubs response “insulting and misleading” as ministers point to 3.7% rise in public-sector pay compared with 1.2% decrease in private sector
Boris Johnson's spad reforms 'disempowering ministers and weakening government'
22 Oct 2020 HR
Boris Johnson's spad reforms 'disempowering ministers and weakening government'
IfG calls for No.10 to relinquish some power over hiring and firing, and for increased scrutiny of high-profile advisers
Joint Biosecurity Centre partners with stats and machine-learning experts to inform Covid response
22 Oct 2020 Coronavirus
Joint Biosecurity Centre partners with stats and machine-learning experts to inform Covid response
The Alan Turing Institute and Royal Statistical Society to set up virtual lab
MoJ launches review that could lead to Parole Board overhaul
22 Oct 2020 Justice & Home Affairs
MoJ launches review that could lead to Parole Board overhaul
Review is the “culmination of work to examine and reform the parole system" that followed Worboys case
Comprehensive Spending Review halted as Treasury prioritises certainty – and reiterates pay restraint warning
21 Oct 2020 Economics
Comprehensive Spending Review halted as Treasury prioritises certainty – and reiterates pay restraint warning
Sunak says now is not the time for a full review
Cummings lockdown trip 'undermined' government's Covid messages, Sedwill says
21 Oct 2020 Communications
Cummings lockdown trip 'undermined' government's Covid messages, Sedwill says
Sedwill says spad's trip to Durham was a "mistake"
Officials win plaudits for statistical excellence
21 Oct 2020 Communications
Officials win plaudits for statistical excellence
MHCLG, the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Ofsted and ONS teams lauded for work with data
Treasury perm sec Scholar tight-lipped on impact analysis for Covid-19 tiers
21 Oct 2020 Analysis
Treasury perm sec Scholar tight-lipped on impact analysis for Covid-19 tiers
Treasury perm sec grilled by MPs demanding figures for effect on businesses of new localised restrictions
HMRC told to examine whether Making Tax Digital is ‘reasonable and affordable’ before further rollout
20 Oct 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC told to examine whether Making Tax Digital is ‘reasonable and affordable’ before further rollout
PAC tells department it is "not convinced" the scheme will deliver its expected benefits