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
Defra announces closure of Newcastle office
15 May Energy & Environment
Defra announces closure of Newcastle office
Treasury appoints new second perm sec to support economic growth mission
15 May Economics
Treasury appoints new second perm sec to support economic growth mission
Civil servants 'are hungry for reform': Union boss urges ministers to set clear plan
14 May Civil Service Reform
Civil servants 'are hungry for reform': Union boss urges ministers to set clear plan
ONS makes ‘milestone’ move to boost trust in government data
07 Dec 2020 Civil Service Reform
ONS makes ‘milestone’ move to boost trust in government data
Statistics body floats quality framework to help departments improve their data use
Treasury drafts in former British Land chief to set up infrastructure bank
07 Dec 2020 Economics
Treasury drafts in former British Land chief to set up infrastructure bank
Chris Grigg appointed as ‘interim senior adviser’ to help establish new investment body, which will be based in the north of England
NI businesses raise 'grave concerns' about HMRC border IT
04 Dec 2020 Brexit
NI businesses raise 'grave concerns' about HMRC border IT
Warning comes after IT director says there is “work to do during the month of December” on the Customs Declaration Service
MHCLG to ‘fast track’ planning regime for public buildings
04 Dec 2020 Energy & Environment
MHCLG to ‘fast track’ planning regime for public buildings
Department says new schools and hospitals will be delivered more quickly through 'more streamlined' process
Union poised for High Court challenge to £95k cap on civil service exit payments
04 Dec 2020 HR
Union poised for High Court challenge to £95k cap on civil service exit payments
FDA will today kick off judicial review process against limit on settlements introduced last month
PM urged to launch rapid Covid-19 public inquiry to 'minimise loss of life'
04 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
PM urged to launch rapid Covid-19 public inquiry to 'minimise loss of life'
Charities and unions back call for rapid review into government's handling of pandemic
Government review calls for mandatory transparency in public sector use of algorithms
03 Dec 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Government review calls for mandatory transparency in public sector use of algorithms
Laws must also be updated, according to Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation
Ex-UKIP MP Douglas Carswell joins DIT board
03 Dec 2020 Foreign Affairs
Ex-UKIP MP Douglas Carswell joins DIT board
Former Labour spad Andrew Hood also named as department's lead non-executive board member
DfE ‘doesn’t know’ if free school meals voucher company made profit
03 Dec 2020 Commercial
DfE ‘doesn’t know’ if free school meals voucher company made profit
NAO says contractor charged department face value for supermarket vouchers but obtained them at discount
Covid vaccine approved: no corners were cut, says MHRA chief
02 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
Covid vaccine approved: no corners were cut, says MHRA chief
The NHS could begin Covid vaccinations from next week following approval
Limited access to data holding us back, immigration policy advisers warn
02 Dec 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Limited access to data holding us back, immigration policy advisers warn
MAC chair calls for improvements to "robustly measure the impact of the new immigration system during a period of huge change"
FDA backs legal challenge to Dido Harding appointment
02 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
FDA backs legal challenge to Dido Harding appointment
FDA general secretary backs complaint on top Covid roles as open and fair competition “protects the civil service from cronyism and corruption”
Home Office’s points-based immigration system opens to applicants
02 Dec 2020 Foreign Affairs
Home Office’s points-based immigration system opens to applicants
Post-Brexit visa scheme offers skilled-workers right to work in UK for five years
Department for Transport has eyes on ‘second home’ in Second City
01 Dec 2020 Civil Service Reform
Department for Transport has eyes on ‘second home’ in Second City
Ministry mulls Birmingham expansion as MHCLG works up plans for Wolverhampton outpost
New interim head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service named
01 Dec 2020 HR
New interim head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service named
Jenny Pyper takes over post on an eight-month agreement as review of process for filling top job on a permanent basis goes on
DfE expands supplier base for laptops scheme
01 Dec 2020 Commercial
DfE expands supplier base for laptops scheme
Department brings in two additional IT resellers to supply about 165,000 extra devices
DHSC gears up to spend £95m on shipping in PPE and medical supplies next year Exclusive
30 Nov 2020 Commercial
DHSC gears up to spend £95m on shipping in PPE and medical supplies next year
Freight and logistics deals will be used to import diagnostic kits and equipment used to fight Covid-19
HMRC and Home Office the big winners as spending review commits £600m to ‘fix outdated government IT’
30 Nov 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC and Home Office the big winners as spending review commits £600m to ‘fix outdated government IT’
Document also outlines projection of extra £700m revenue from digital taxation regime
DVSA names Loveday Ryder as its new chief executive
30 Nov 2020 HR
DVSA names Loveday Ryder as its new chief executive
Outgoing BPDTS boss will be succeeded by Rich McHugh at helm of digital services provider
Centralised comms function ‘won’t be in place before April’
30 Nov 2020 Communications
Centralised comms function ‘won’t be in place before April’
Union says project team briefing suggests any staff changes will be in the second half of 2021
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — November 30
30 Nov 2020 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — November 30
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Vacancy crisis sees NICS agency staff spending hit £46m a year
27 Nov 2020 Commercial
Vacancy crisis sees NICS agency staff spending hit £46m a year
Audit Office director says figure represents a 155% increase over the past two years
Dropping 0.7% aid-spending commitment 'fundamentally wrong', government told
27 Nov 2020 Finance
Dropping 0.7% aid-spending commitment 'fundamentally wrong', government told
"Temporary" ODA cut has sparked a ministerial resignation, while a union warns it could affect jobs
MPs voice fears over BEIS monitoring of Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
27 Nov 2020 Energy & Environment
MPs voice fears over BEIS monitoring of Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Report slams NDA for “perpetual lack of knowledge” about condition of contaminated sites earmarked for £132bn clean-up