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
A-Level algorithm row: Ofqual snubbed offer of help from experts unwilling to sign NDA
17 Aug 2020 Statistics
A-Level algorithm row: Ofqual snubbed offer of help from experts unwilling to sign NDA
Qualifications regulator said independent statisticians must sign gagging clause to be considered for advisory group
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — August 17
17 Aug 2020 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — August 17
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Recruitment of chief digital and information officer ‘still ongoing’, Cabinet Office claims
17 Aug 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Recruitment of chief digital and information officer ‘still ongoing’, Cabinet Office claims
Applications for newly created perm sec-level position closed more than 10 months ago, since when updates have been scarce
Public Health England to be scrapped after criticism of how it handled coronavirus crisis
17 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Public Health England to be scrapped after criticism of how it handled coronavirus crisis
New National Institute for Health Protection set to be in place by September, with test and trace chief Dido Harding tipped to lead it
DfID unveils £4.8m UK aid fund to protect high street supply chains hit by coronavirus
14 Aug 2020
DfID unveils £4.8m UK aid fund to protect high street supply chains hit by coronavirus
Fund will support "some of the most vulnerable workers in developing countries", DfID says amid criticisms it is funnelling aid "into the pockets of wealthy businesses"
PM to double fines for people who break face mask rules as he resumes easing of Covid-19 curbs
14 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
PM to double fines for people who break face mask rules as he resumes easing of Covid-19 curbs
New fines to be introduced for hosting gatherings of more than 30 people, as bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos reopen
DIT offers £120,000 for communications chief as No.10 presses ahead with comms reforms
14 Aug 2020 Communications
DIT offers £120,000 for communications chief as No.10 presses ahead with comms reforms
Comms director will “have a key role in leading [their] team through the changes to the Government Communication Service’s operating model”, job ad says
Kerslake calls for accountability and transparency as civil service reforms gather pace
14 Aug 2020 Civil Service Reform
Kerslake calls for accountability and transparency as civil service reforms gather pace
Former civil service head says the Cummings office move is about power as well as efficiency
Cummings and No.10 policy unit to move to Cabinet Office
13 Aug 2020 Civil Service Reform
Cummings and No.10 policy unit to move to Cabinet Office
The move is seen as part of Cummings-inspired government changes as top adviser has long wanted more control over the civil service by Downing Street
No.10 urged to clarify who is leading major defence review
13 Aug 2020 Civil Service Reform
No.10 urged to clarify who is leading major defence review
Call made as review calls for evidence submission
HMRC announces three new DG appointments
13 Aug 2020 HR
HMRC announces three new DG appointments
Senior staff appointments latest in a number of management moves at the department
Civil servants thought Scottish independence debate would fade, and ministers should treat officials as allies – ex-ministers reflect
13 Aug 2020 HR
Civil servants thought Scottish independence debate would fade, and ministers should treat officials as allies – ex-ministers reflect
“There was an expectation that perhaps, certainly in the civil service ‘well, we’ve had that referendum and we’ll move on’": David Mundell, David Gauke and Sam Gyimah share their experiences in government for the IfG series
New data standards for government
12 Aug 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
New data standards for government
GDS-led body publishes first set of guidelines
Cabinet Office to mandate 'digital imprints' on online political ads in disinformation crackdown
12 Aug 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Cabinet Office to mandate 'digital imprints' on online political ads in disinformation crackdown
‘We must ensure that there are clear rules to help them see who is behind campaign content online,’ says Chloe Smith
Hard times are here says Sunak as UK plunged into record recession
12 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Hard times are here says Sunak as UK plunged into record recession
‘Hundreds of thousands of people have already lost their jobs, and sadly in the coming months many more will,’ says chancellor
Sedwill's exit payment reveals ‘arbitrary’ impact of Treasury's £95k payout cap, union says
12 Aug 2020 HR
Sedwill's exit payment reveals ‘arbitrary’ impact of Treasury's £95k payout cap, union says
Prospect says civil servants are right to be angry about "double standards", saying the cap will hit lower-paid officials
No. 10 ‘orders rapid review’ of evidence on coronavirus school transmissions ahead of September return
11 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
No. 10 ‘orders rapid review’ of evidence on coronavirus school transmissions ahead of September return
Review comes as PM says 'education is the priority for the country, and that is simple social justice'
IfG calls for clearer Whitehall structure for trade talks as it warns of ‘recipe for disaster’
11 Aug 2020 Economy
IfG calls for clearer Whitehall structure for trade talks as it warns of ‘recipe for disaster’
Simultaneous trade negotiations could overwhelm existing structures, says think tank
Watchdog calls for evidence on how e-passport gates have affected people's ability to prove immigration status
11 Aug 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Watchdog calls for evidence on how e-passport gates have affected people's ability to prove immigration status
David Bolt's e-gates inspection will look at how visa-free entry to the UK has affected people's ability to demonstrate they have a right to be in the UK and access services
Government’s Edinburgh hub completed
11 Aug 2020 Operational Delivery
Government’s Edinburgh hub completed
The new office building will eventually house as many as 3,000 civil servants
Where Dominic Cummings is right, and more: seven things we learned in Mark Sedwill’s CSW exit interview
10 Aug 2020 Civil Service Reform
Where Dominic Cummings is right, and more: seven things we learned in Mark Sedwill’s CSW exit interview
Sir Mark Sedwill will soon leave the civil service’s top jobs – cabinet secretary, head of the civil service and national security adviser. He has reflected on his time at the top of government with CSW, and here is some of what we found out
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — August 10
10 Aug 2020 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — August 10
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
RAF plane conducts surveillance in the English Channel as Priti Patel calls for military help to stop migrants
10 Aug 2020 Security & Defence
RAF plane conducts surveillance in the English Channel as Priti Patel calls for military help to stop migrants
Charity Refugee Action says government ‘is trying to shirk its responsibility to help people fleeing from some of the world’s most violent countries’
Labour demands ‘rapid reform’ of coronavirus contact tracing system with call to cut outsourcing funding
10 Aug 2020 Commercial
Labour demands ‘rapid reform’ of coronavirus contact tracing system with call to cut outsourcing funding
Government insists NHS Test and Trace is working alongside local action to tackle outbreaks