New Cabinet Office DG role to lead civil service transformation
28 Apr Civil Service Reform

New Cabinet Office DG role to lead civil service transformation

Home Office chief operating officer Jerome Glass moves into a newly-created role as director general - future civil service
by Suzannah Brecknell
Ex-FCDO perm sec: Pressure to appoint Mandelson ‘about time not substance’
28 Apr Foreign Affairs
Ex-FCDO perm sec: Pressure to appoint Mandelson ‘about time not substance’
McSweeney: I should have asked officials to question Mandelson about Epstein
28 Apr Foreign Affairs
McSweeney: I should have asked officials to question Mandelson about Epstein
MoD planning 'phased approach' to Ajax restart
28 Apr Commercial
MoD planning 'phased approach' to Ajax restart
Ex-cab sec Robin Butler: PM has 'ruptured' relationship with civil servants
27 Apr Politics & Constitution
Ex-cab sec Robin Butler: PM has 'ruptured' relationship with civil servants
Butler warns that political wing of No.10 has "created a very bad relationship" with officials which is making government “dysfunctional”
Latest moves – 27 April: Gus O'Donnell appointed to Order of the Garter and more
27 Apr HR
Latest moves – 27 April: Gus O'Donnell appointed to Order of the Garter and more
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
Government should merge more small public bodies, report urges
24 Apr Economy
Government should merge more small public bodies, report urges
Consolidating smaller public bodies into larger quangos can deliver savings through economies of scale and strengthen public bodies’ resilience, Public Accounts Committee MPs say
Operational Delivery Profession Awards winners announced
24 Apr HR
Operational Delivery Profession Awards winners announced
Team who made theory test booking system accessible to deaf people and HMRC official who transformed how the department approaches staff safety are among this year's winners
Cat Little: Cabinet Office staff advised that Mandelson should undergo developed vetting
23 Apr Foreign Affairs
Cat Little: Cabinet Office staff advised that Mandelson should undergo developed vetting
Little also says "due process was followed" throughout the vetting process
DVLA reveals time savings from contact centre AI tool
23 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
DVLA reveals time savings from contact centre AI tool
Agency says the average time spent navigating automated options at start of calls has been cut in half
Pension crisis: Renewed calls to end Capita contract after Royal Mail decision
23 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Pension crisis: Renewed calls to end Capita contract after Royal Mail decision
Unions urge government to review Civil Service Pension Scheme contract after ministers decide to end Capita's administration of Royal Mail pension scheme
Sedwill: PM should reinstate Robbins
22 Apr HR
Sedwill: PM should reinstate Robbins
Former cab sec and national security adviser says Starmer should "retract his accusations" against ex-FCDO perm sec
NICS confirms Executive Office perm sec appointment
22 Apr HR
NICS confirms Executive Office perm sec appointment
Moira Doherty takes helm of Northern Ireland’s core strategy department after serving as interim since February
DWP sees apprenticeship starts halve over three years
22 Apr HR
DWP sees apprenticeship starts halve over three years
Minister blames headcount restrictions but flags focus on digital and counter-fraud roles
Robbins: FCDO insisted Mandelson undergo developed vetting despite 'dismissive' attitude from No.10
21 Apr Foreign Affairs
Robbins: FCDO insisted Mandelson undergo developed vetting despite 'dismissive' attitude from No.10
Former FCDO perm sec Olly Robbins says his department did not "overrule" UKSV on granting DV clearance to Mandelson, but followed proper process to make its own assessment with "rigorous" independence
Starmer tells MPs it ‘beggars belief’ Mandelson vetting result was withheld
21 Apr Security & Defence
Starmer tells MPs it ‘beggars belief’ Mandelson vetting result was withheld
PM describes FCDO’s failure to pass on UK Security Vetting decision as “incredible”
Strike ballot over FCDO job cuts fails to reach turnout threshold
21 Apr Foreign Affairs
Strike ballot over FCDO job cuts fails to reach turnout threshold
Union says it was “a handful” of votes short of securing an overwhelming mandate to oppose department’s restructuring plans
Civil Service Commission launches review of revolving-doors rules
21 Apr HR
Civil Service Commission launches review of revolving-doors rules
Watchdog also kicks off new audits of departments’ approaches to business appointment rules at lower grades
Ex-Defra perm sec Helen Ghosh put forward to chair environment watchdog
20 Apr Energy & Environment
Ex-Defra perm sec Helen Ghosh put forward to chair environment watchdog
Ghosh, who also led the National Trust, named as preferred candidate for Office for Environmental Protection job
Robbins sacking: Gus O'Donnell warns of 'serious' crisis in ministerial-civil service relations
20 Apr Civil Service Reform
Robbins sacking: Gus O'Donnell warns of 'serious' crisis in ministerial-civil service relations
Former cabinet secretary says the sacking of Sir Olly Robbins “risks having a serious and sustained chilling effect on serving and prospective civil servants"
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 30 March–20 April
20 Apr HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 30 March–20 April
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
Former security chief ‘cannot comprehend’ basis for sacking Robbins
17 Apr Foreign Affairs
Former security chief ‘cannot comprehend’ basis for sacking Robbins
Ciaran Martin says firing FCDO perm sec does not square with how the vetting process works, and will have chilling effect on civil servants
Mandelson vetting debacle: No.10 ‘put civil servants in invidious position’
17 Apr Foreign Affairs
Mandelson vetting debacle: No.10 ‘put civil servants in invidious position’
Union says Downing Street “allowed the impression to circulate” that UKSV had not done its job properly
Poor departmental estimates led to compensation-scheme woes, NAO finds
17 Apr Justice & Home Affairs
Poor departmental estimates led to compensation-scheme woes, NAO finds
However, public spending watchdog says lessons are being learned as billions of pounds are paid out to people harmed by the actions of public bodies
FCDO perm sec Olly Robbins to leave over Mandelson vetting revelations
17 Apr Foreign Affairs
FCDO perm sec Olly Robbins to leave over Mandelson vetting revelations
Starmer faces calls to resign after it emerges officials overruled UKSV recommendation not to appoint Labour Party grandee as ambassador to Washington
Review flags governance and culture issues at Troubles legacy body
16 Apr HR
Review flags governance and culture issues at Troubles legacy body
Northern Ireland Office plans further probe, following ex-NI Department of Health perm sec’s investigation
Pension crisis: Capita offers to pay for continued use of surge staff
16 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
Pension crisis: Capita offers to pay for continued use of surge staff
Around 140 staff from HMRC's Surge and Rapid Response Team are currently supporting Capita with the Civil Service Pension Scheme recovery
Home Office gives update on pledge to end use of asylum hotels
16 Apr Justice & Home Affairs
Home Office gives update on pledge to end use of asylum hotels
Department says eleven more hotels have returned to their normal community use