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
Departments have underestimated threat posed by cyberattacks, MPs warn
13 May Security & Defence
Departments have underestimated threat posed by cyberattacks, MPs warn
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
13 May Communications
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
Call for 'bold investment decisions' to address prison crisis
12 May Justice & Home Affairs
Call for 'bold investment decisions' to address prison crisis
MoD seeks help to solve mystery of Falklands War painting
05 Jan 2024 Culture
MoD seeks help to solve mystery of Falklands War painting
Huge artwork was found in disused classroom at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall
Sunak signals election could be in second half of 2024
05 Jan 2024 Politics & Constitution
Sunak signals election could be in second half of 2024
PM says it is his "working assumption" that the general election will take place in the latter part of the year
NI civil service sickness rates 'continually higher' than elsewhere in UK
04 Jan 2024 HR
NI civil service sickness rates 'continually higher' than elsewhere in UK
Ulster University report says direct cost of absent officials in Northern Ireland was £39m in 2022-23
Stats regulator investigating Sunak's asylum backlog claims
04 Jan 2024 Justice & Home Affairs
Stats regulator investigating Sunak's asylum backlog claims
Thousands of asylum cases remain undecided despite ministers' claims that the backlog has been cleared
Transition talks between opposition and civil service should start straight away, report argues
04 Jan 2024 Civil Service Reform
Transition talks between opposition and civil service should start straight away, report argues
Institute for Government report warns "time is running short" for access talks to have most effect
Sunak being 'transparent' about asylum backlog numbers, No.10 insists
03 Jan 2024 Communications
Sunak being 'transparent' about asylum backlog numbers, No.10 insists
No.10 defends PM's claim despite accusations it was "misleading", with thousands of decisions remaining
Decisions made via WhatsApp must go on official record, Cabinet Office says
03 Jan 2024 Communications
Decisions made via WhatsApp must go on official record, Cabinet Office says
Fresh guidance instructs ministerial private offices and perm sec offices to transfer decisions from non-corporate communications channels onto the record
MoD civil servant alleges three sexual assaults by colleagues
03 Jan 2024 Security & Defence
MoD civil servant alleges three sexual assaults by colleagues
Female official speaks out about experiences of sexual assault following allegations of 'toxic' culture by 60 civil servants at Ministry of Defence
Former CPS head and government commercial chief named in New Year's Honours
02 Jan 2024 HR
Former CPS head and government commercial chief named in New Year's Honours
Max Hill knighted, while former Passport Office head Abi Tierney is named CB
Sunak claims asylum backlog has been cleared
02 Jan 2024 Justice & Home Affairs
Sunak claims asylum backlog has been cleared
More than 4,000 "complex" cases remain in legacy backlog, while total backlog stands at just under 100,000
Starmer working on plans to tackle civil-service churn – and other news you may have missed over Christmas
02 Jan 2024 HR
Starmer working on plans to tackle civil-service churn – and other news you may have missed over Christmas
Labour leader wants DGs to stay in post longer, Cummings claims Sunak offered him new No.10 role, and IfG calls for Spring Budget to be scrapped
Latest civil service and public affairs moves – December 28
28 Dec 2023 HR
Latest civil service and public affairs moves – December 28
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
CMA creates deputy general counsel role to help manage new powers
27 Dec 2023 HR
CMA creates deputy general counsel role to help manage new powers
Jessica Radke appointed to new role, which "reflects the increase in workload and responsibilities that the CMA has taken on recently"
HMRC seeks suppliers for £500m shared services contract
22 Dec 2023 Civil Service Reform
HMRC seeks suppliers for £500m shared services contract
The tax department is leading the Unity cluster, which also includes DfT and DLUHC, to implement standardised back-office software platforms
Cabinet Office trumpets £1.1bn generated by efficiency-driven property sales
22 Dec 2023 Property & Estates
Cabinet Office trumpets £1.1bn generated by efficiency-driven property sales
Proceeds from Tokyo Embassy deal make up 60% of provisional 2022-23 figure, details reveal
DWP extends contract to help provide One Login identity authentication add-on
21 Dec 2023 Digital, Data & Technology
DWP extends contract to help provide One Login identity authentication add-on
Contract awarded to Deloitte earlier this year – to enable users to access login system by cross-referencing government data – is extended for several months at a cost of an extra £330,000
Minister sends warning shot on Senior Civil Service pay for 2024-25
21 Dec 2023 HR
Minister sends warning shot on Senior Civil Service pay for 2024-25
John Glen says SSRB must remember “historically high” pay awards agreed for top-ranking officials this year
HMRC scales back helpline in bid to steer customer's to 'best kept secret'
20 Dec 2023 Finance
HMRC scales back helpline in bid to steer customer's to 'best kept secret'
HMRC chief exec Jim Harra says two-third of callers to tax self-assessment helpline each could have had queries resolved quicker online
Government offers £584m for NI public sector pay rises in 'final' bid to end NI power-sharing vacuum
20 Dec 2023 Finance
Government offers £584m for NI public sector pay rises in 'final' bid to end NI power-sharing vacuum
Money for pay deals is part of a £3.3bn package described by Northern Ireland secretary as a final offer
Departments accused of ‘slow and inconsistent’ progress with civil-service whistleblowing
19 Dec 2023 HR
Departments accused of ‘slow and inconsistent’ progress with civil-service whistleblowing
NAO calls for greater analysis of investigation outcomes and insight on the experiences of officials who sound the alarm over concerns
MSPs launch inquiry into commissioners to consider if new approach is needed
19 Dec 2023 HR
MSPs launch inquiry into commissioners to consider if new approach is needed
Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee will look at whether there is a “coherent and strategic approach” to commissions in Scotland
CCS offering up to £227k for next chief exec
18 Dec 2023 Civil Service Reform
CCS offering up to £227k for next chief exec
Simon Tse will retire from the role next year
Latest civil service and public affairs moves – December 18
18 Dec 2023 HR
Latest civil service and public affairs moves – December 18
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
Civil service’s biggest union names first female general secretary
15 Dec 2023 HR
Civil service’s biggest union names first female general secretary
Fran Heathcote will take over from Mark Serwotka at the helm of PCS from February