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
Don't expect big pay rises, Sunak warns civil servants as he kicks off Spending Review
22 Jul 2020 Finance
Don't expect big pay rises, Sunak warns civil servants as he kicks off Spending Review
Tough choices ahead, warns chancellor as he reveals what departments need to submit to the Treasury for CSR2020
PM unveils £350m decarbonisation push as he vows ‘green, sustainable recovery’ and ‘Jet Zero’ plane trial
22 Jul 2020
PM unveils £350m decarbonisation push as he vows ‘green, sustainable recovery’ and ‘Jet Zero’ plane trial
Boris Johnson launches UK bid for first zero-emissions long-haul passenger flight amid efforts to aid post-coronavirus economic recovery
Civil servants invited to air frustrations as Chisholm reveals 'prospectus for reform'
21 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
Civil servants invited to air frustrations as Chisholm reveals 'prospectus for reform'
"This is a call to join a movement, not a top-down initiative," COO tells officials
Senior civil servants to get 2% wage rise as public sector pay deals unveiled
21 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Senior civil servants to get 2% wage rise as public sector pay deals unveiled
Government also confirms delegated grades will allow departments to make awards within 1.5%-2.5% range
Chief nurse confirms she was dropped from No.10 briefing at height of Cummings row
20 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Chief nurse confirms she was dropped from No.10 briefing at height of Cummings row
Ruth May says "you would have to ask other people" why she was dropped, but confirms "the rules were clear"
'Misogyny' behind criticism of DIT perm sec Antonia Romeo, union chief says
20 Jul 2020 HR
'Misogyny' behind criticism of DIT perm sec Antonia Romeo, union chief says
Media has targeted "female candidate with a profile", FDA's Dave Penman says
At a glance: All the latest lockdown changes announced by Boris Johnson — including back-to-work rules, council powers and the return of theatre
20 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
At a glance: All the latest lockdown changes announced by Boris Johnson — including back-to-work rules, council powers and the return of theatre
On Friday morning, the prime minister held a press conference to announce the next batch of changes to coronavirus lockdown rules under the government’s “road map”. Here’s what‘s been promised.
Government has ‘scant idea’ whether £117bn a-year-tax reliefs are just ‘freebies’, MPs warn
20 Jul 2020 Government Tax Profession
Government has ‘scant idea’ whether £117bn a-year-tax reliefs are just ‘freebies’, MPs warn
HMRC does not “systematically” measure whether tax reliefs change behaviour in the way they are intended, PAC says
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — July 20
20 Jul 2020 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — July 20
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
BEIS names new permanent secretary
20 Jul 2020 HR
BEIS names new permanent secretary
Sarah Munby is government's youngest current perm sec
Matt Hancock orders urgent review into 'misleading' PHE coronavirus death statistics
17 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Matt Hancock orders urgent review into 'misleading' PHE coronavirus death statistics
Review comes after reports that all deaths of people who have tested positive for coronavirus are marked as Covid deaths, even if cause of death may be unrelated
MPs slam Boris Johnson’s ‘impulsive’ decision to merge DfID with the Foreign Office
17 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
MPs slam Boris Johnson’s ‘impulsive’ decision to merge DfID with the Foreign Office
Government urged to retain the ICAI aid watchdog after overseas aid department's abolition
Boris Johnson hands councils power to order local lockdowns as he floats coronavirus ‘normality’ by Christmas
17 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Boris Johnson hands councils power to order local lockdowns as he floats coronavirus ‘normality’ by Christmas
PM says that departments will discuss possible office returns with civil servants
Cabinet Office urged to review pay disparities of up to £56,000 for specialist staff
16 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office urged to review pay disparities of up to £56,000 for specialist staff
Pay flexibility so departments can recruit and retain staff prompts "workforce issues" and concern about "internal markets", NAO says
Data gaps holding back DIT's export strategy despite 'good start', NAO says
16 Jul 2020 Brexit
Data gaps holding back DIT's export strategy despite 'good start', NAO says
Unclear whether DIT has focused its efforts in regions and sectors where opportunities are greatest, watchdog finds
UK 5G network faces three-year delay and £2bn extra cost as government confirms Huawei expulsion
16 Jul 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
UK 5G network faces three-year delay and £2bn extra cost as government confirms Huawei expulsion
The Chinese tech vendor’s kit will be removed entirely by 2027, digital secretary Oliver Dowden has announced
Boris Johnson promises independent inquiry into Covid-19 response but says now is not the ‘right moment’
16 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Boris Johnson promises independent inquiry into Covid-19 response but says now is not the ‘right moment’
‘Of course we will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic in the future,’ says PM
NICS offers up to £190,000 for new chief to lead post-cash-for-ash reforms
16 Jul 2020 HR
NICS offers up to £190,000 for new chief to lead post-cash-for-ash reforms
Boosted salary offered for Northern Ireland Civil Service head who must help ensure the NICS “has the confidence and trust” of the public
MPs slam MoD over 'lamentable failure' to deliver armed forces equipment plan
15 Jul 2020 Security & Defence
MPs slam MoD over 'lamentable failure' to deliver armed forces equipment plan
PAC says Ministry of Defence and Treasury must deliver a “concrete plan” on how to balance the budget
DWP trials new home-working scheme after 'ad-hoc' Covid arrangements
15 Jul 2020 Operational Delivery
DWP trials new home-working scheme after 'ad-hoc' Covid arrangements
Splitting time between home and the office will let staff socially distance, department says
Chisholm takes on churn and ‘costly, inefficient processes’ in the civil service
15 Jul 2020 Civil Service Reform
Chisholm takes on churn and ‘costly, inefficient processes’ in the civil service
Coronavirus crisis has added "renewed weight" to the imperative for reform, COO says
Cost of tackling coronavirus pandemic jumps to £192bn as UK heads for worst economic crash in 300 years
14 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Cost of tackling coronavirus pandemic jumps to £192bn as UK heads for worst economic crash in 300 years
Economic output may not recover from the Covid-19 pandemic until 2025, according to forecast
PM makes face coverings mandatory in shops from July 24
14 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
PM makes face coverings mandatory in shops from July 24
Ministers will consider how to enforce the new measures in the coming days, Johnson says
Whitehall departments reported 500 personal data breaches to ICO in 2019-20
14 Jul 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Whitehall departments reported 500 personal data breaches to ICO in 2019-20
Information request reveals that number of reported incidents increased slightly