DWP annnounces 60% in-office rule across all grades from September
09 May HR

DWP annnounces 60% in-office rule across all grades from September

PCS says the decision is "a backward step" and that trusting staff to work from home "has been shown to improve productivity"
by Tevye Markson
Sir Ian Diamond steps down as UK’s national statistician
09 May HR
Sir Ian Diamond steps down as UK’s national statistician
Union anger as ex-cabinet minister accuses officials of being Putin-appeasers
09 May Foreign Affairs
Union anger as ex-cabinet minister accuses officials of being Putin-appeasers
Agentic AI ‘could boost government productivity by 20-30%’, former lead NED says
09 May Digital, Data & Technology
Agentic AI ‘could boost government productivity by 20-30%’, former lead NED says
NHS Test and Trace still ‘heavily reliant’ on consultants, NAO says
25 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
NHS Test and Trace still ‘heavily reliant’ on consultants, NAO says
Watchdog says headcount of external workers increased between December and April despite pledge to reduce numbers “markedly”
Kate Bingham dropped from High Court cronyism challenge
25 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
Kate Bingham dropped from High Court cronyism challenge
Campaign group says it is pressing on with judicial review of Dido Harding’s selection to lead NHS Test and Trace
Shapps sidesteps questions on ‘scuppered’ DVLA deal
25 Jun 2021 HR
Shapps sidesteps questions on ‘scuppered’ DVLA deal
Transport secretary will not confirm or deny he pulled proposed settlement that would have ended strike
FCDO accused of ‘trying to hide foreign aid cuts’
25 Jun 2021 Foreign Affairs
FCDO accused of ‘trying to hide foreign aid cuts’
Parliamentary committee chair says failure to properly detail spending coincides with reduction in Official Development Assistance
Ministers ‘failing to match words with deeds’ on climate change
24 Jun 2021 Energy & Environment
Ministers ‘failing to match words with deeds’ on climate change
Committee says government has been “too slow” to follow historic pledges with delivery
GDS ramps up researcher recruitment
24 Jun 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
GDS ramps up researcher recruitment
Digital agency looks to boost teams dedicated to GOV.UK, government as a platform, and digital identity
Pandemic 'exposes how poorly departments understand their sectors'
23 Jun 2021 Culture
Pandemic 'exposes how poorly departments understand their sectors'
MPs question whether DCMS’ Culture Recovery Fund has assisted many essential parts of the arts world
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
23 Jun 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
National Audit Office warns department-level information deficit could impact Cabinet Office’s ability to drive efficiency and reform
DfT civil servant joins Love Island line-up
23 Jun 2021 HR
DfT civil servant joins Love Island line-up
Sharon Gaffka has also worked on the Covid-19 testing programme
Cabinet Office and Treasury urged to create new ‘joint office’
23 Jun 2021 Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office and Treasury urged to create new ‘joint office’
Commission says move would strengthen centre of government and could pave the way for a future Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Greensill: Treasury releases perm sec’s texts to Cameron
22 Jun 2021 Finance
Greensill: Treasury releases perm sec’s texts to Cameron
FOI reveals department had to ask former PM for Scholar’s messages because of IT failure
Scottish Government announces new harassment complaints procedure
22 Jun 2021 HR
Scottish Government announces new harassment complaints procedure
Reforms include creation of propriety and ethics team to maintain standards across the civil service
Civil service needs to dump ‘ingrained snobbery’ over qualifications, says Labour
22 Jun 2021 Civil Service Reform
Civil service needs to dump ‘ingrained snobbery’ over qualifications, says Labour
Angela Rayner says departments should be less focused on recruiting staff with A-levels and degrees
Government pilot to drop self-isolation for those who have had both vaccines
22 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
Government pilot to drop self-isolation for those who have had both vaccines
Health secretary says government trialling the use of tests instead of isolation for those double jabbed
Dozens of buildings with Grenfell cladding won’t be fixed this year, says MHCLG
21 Jun 2021 Local & Devolved
Dozens of buildings with Grenfell cladding won’t be fixed this year, says MHCLG
Perm sec tells MPs department currently expects only 84% of identified problem buildings to be completely remediated by the end of December
DfE policy adviser lined up as next Ofqual head
21 Jun 2021 Education
DfE policy adviser lined up as next Ofqual head
Education secretary picks Jo Saxton as preferred candidate to be chief regulator at exams watchdog
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — June 21
21 Jun 2021 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — June 21
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Anger over 'fire and rehire' threats at Homes England
18 Jun 2021 HR
Anger over 'fire and rehire' threats at Homes England
Union calls on housing secretary to intervene with senior managers in pay-and-grading exercise
National Infrastructure Bank opens in Leeds
18 Jun 2021 Economy
National Infrastructure Bank opens in Leeds
Bank will be a 'long-lasting institution' with 'flexibility to adapt and respond to evolving market conditions', Treasury says
Treasury urged to reform cost-control system for civil service pensions
18 Jun 2021 Finance
Treasury urged to reform cost-control system for civil service pensions
Current mechanism was on course for “perverse” recommendation to reduce contributions and increase benefits before it was paused, says government actuary
GDS begins online user monitoring to improve GOV.UK performance
18 Jun 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
GDS begins online user monitoring to improve GOV.UK performance
Anonymised information on devices and connections could help find ‘problematic pages’
UK 'cannot afford' more broken promises on social care
17 Jun 2021 Health & Social Care
UK 'cannot afford' more broken promises on social care
DHSC must produce a reform plan and workforce strategy after years of promising to do so, MPs say
Cabinet Office offers £120k for Brexit Opportunities Unit director
17 Jun 2021 Brexit
Cabinet Office offers £120k for Brexit Opportunities Unit director
David Frost specifies “visionary, inventive and dedicated leader” to challenge policy and produce “creative new initiatives”
Senior officials flag home-working surveillance fears
17 Jun 2021 HR
Senior officials flag home-working surveillance fears
FDA survey reports work-life balance improvements from pandemic arrangements but highlights future challenges