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
Civil service headcount rises again – now same size as 2006
17 Dec 2024 HR
Civil service headcount rises again – now same size as 2006
MoJ makes biggest increase to workforce size, while MoD continues reductions
Wormald delivers first message to officials: 'We all need to do things differently’
16 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Wormald delivers first message to officials: 'We all need to do things differently’
Officials should be proud to serve in "our fantastic civil service", but will need to improve cross-department working and take better advantage of new tech, new cab sec says
Cabinet Office accounts qualified over GPA shortcomings
16 Dec 2024 Finance
Cabinet Office accounts qualified over GPA shortcomings
Just-published annual report also details cab sec Simon Case's 2023-24 pay rise
Carer's allowance overpayments review begins in earnest as debt hits £250m
16 Dec 2024 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Carer's allowance overpayments review begins in earnest as debt hits £250m
Total overpayment debt still to be recovered has risen by nearly £100m since 2018-19, NAO report finds
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – December 16
16 Dec 2024 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – December 16
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs in the last week, via Dods People
Pensions Regulator agrees pay deal worth up to 7.55%
13 Dec 2024 HR
Pensions Regulator agrees pay deal worth up to 7.55%
Union says more than 300 officials will qualify for the top-tier uplift after long-running dispute
ICO to continue 'minimal-fine regime' for public-sector bodies
13 Dec 2024 Digital, Data & Technology
ICO to continue 'minimal-fine regime' for public-sector bodies
Initiative may have saved departments and other government organisations up to £22m, information commissioner says
Cabinet Office launches voluntary-redundancy drive
12 Dec 2024 HR
Cabinet Office launches voluntary-redundancy drive
Restructure could see 400 staff get exit plans with natural wastage set to reduce headcount further
MPs should not be expected to be 'saints', Standards Committee chair says
12 Dec 2024 Politics & Constitution
MPs should not be expected to be 'saints', Standards Committee chair says
Punishments for MPs breaking minor parliamentary rules to be less “severe”,
SCS performance management system to include new 'minimum standards' in 2025 Exclusive
12 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
SCS performance management system to include new 'minimum standards' in 2025
Amendments will also include guidance on the “expected distribution” of high and low performers – but Cabinet Office says it is not a return to forced distribution
‘I agree that ministers and civil servants need trust-based partnership’: PM responds to union's concerns
12 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
‘I agree that ministers and civil servants need trust-based partnership’: PM responds to union's concerns
Keir Starmer answers FDA letter raising concerns about ‘tepid bath’ comments
Senior civil servants should get 2.8% pay rise, Cabinet Office says
11 Dec 2024 HR
Senior civil servants should get 2.8% pay rise, Cabinet Office says
The Treasury “has been clear that there will be no additional funding to departments for 2025-26 pay awards”, evidence to SSRB says
Meg Hillier elected Liaison Committee chair
11 Dec 2024 Politics & Constitution
Meg Hillier elected Liaison Committee chair
Former PAC chair, who currently leads the Treasury Committee, picked for "supercommitte"' role
Civil Service Awards 2024 winners revealed
11 Dec 2024 HR
Civil Service Awards 2024 winners revealed
See the full list of winners
Starmer asks civil service to be 'emboldened to upset the apple cart'
10 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Starmer asks civil service to be 'emboldened to upset the apple cart'
Email to civil servants promises that ministers will provide the leadership officials need for delivery
Spending Review: Departments to face external 'challenge panels'
10 Dec 2024 Finance
Spending Review: Departments to face external 'challenge panels'
Treasury eyes clampdown on "non-essential spending" and 5% efficiency savings spread over three years
Home Office to sell or transfer unused £15.4m asylum seeker site
10 Dec 2024 HR
Home Office to sell or transfer unused £15.4m asylum seeker site
Matthew Rycroft says civil servants "rushed" acquisition "out of good faith and seeking to do a good job in difficult circumstances"
McFadden on civil service: Good people in bad systems
09 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
McFadden on civil service: Good people in bad systems
Pat McFadden responds to questions over PM's criticism of Whitehall and also says he believes civil servants should be working in the office "on the whole"
‘Let’s make Whitehall more like a start-up’: Pat McFadden unveils civil service reform plan
09 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
‘Let’s make Whitehall more like a start-up’: Pat McFadden unveils civil service reform plan
Government to deploy ‘test-and-learn’ teams and simplify recruitment processes
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – December 9
09 Dec 2024 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – December 9
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs in the last week, via Dods People
Unions slam Starmer’s ‘tepid bath of managed decline’ civil service attack
06 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Unions slam Starmer’s ‘tepid bath of managed decline’ civil service attack
“I don't think the PM understands how damaging his words have been," warns FDA boss
Cabinet Office perm sec eyes Civil Service People Survey changes
06 Dec 2024 HR
Cabinet Office perm sec eyes Civil Service People Survey changes
Comments come during select committee hearing which sees Cat Little quizzed over Cabinet Office's high scores for bullying, harassment and discrimination
Starmer: Too many civil servants ‘comfortable in tepid bath of managed decline’
05 Dec 2024 Civil Service Reform
Starmer: Too many civil servants ‘comfortable in tepid bath of managed decline’
PM uses 'Plan for Change' speech to warn civil servants against a 'lack of ambition' in reforms
Simon Case praises eight inspiring officials in final speech as cabinet secretary
05 Dec 2024 Leadership
Simon Case praises eight inspiring officials in final speech as cabinet secretary
If we keep hiring people with these characteristics, I'll remain optimistic about the future of the civil service, Case tells audience during valedictory lecture