News

Civil service unions criticise BIS’s decision to shut its Sheffield office – placing 250 jobs in jeopardy – and warn further job losses will follow

BIS permanent secretary Martin Donnelly announces plans to axe department’s Sheffield operation and create a “combined HQ and policy centre in London”

Think tank report says lack of guidance from central government and Whitehall capacity issues have frustrated local leaders’ efforts to take on more powers

Civil servants will always need to be honest, impartial, objective, and act with integrity – but we must make sure we don’t encourage passivity or inertia

Whitehall tops this year's Times Guide to Higher and Degree Apprenticeships

Microsoft reviews some of the big trends that will define government transformation in 2016

"Contingent Labour One" will be replaced with a "Temporary Worker Contracting Vehicle", as CCS places heavy focus on digital skills and hints at smaller lots

Microsoft explores how smarter working can help the government embrace a more flexible approach to governing

Microsoft examines the complex path to Government as a Platform

HMRC's Jim Harra says critics of deal with Google are misunderstanding corporation tax rules – but Labour's John McDonnell renews attack on "very poor deal"

Nick Hardwick – who clashed with the MoJ over spending controls – is to become chair of the Parole Board

FDA and Prospect urge the Senior Salaries Review Body to back a front-loaded 4% payrise and warn of "divisive" attempts to boost the pay of only a limited number of specialists

As the government's chief scientist says Blockchain technology could "revolutionise services", Jeni Tennison of the Open Data Institute examines some of the benefits to the public sector in taking a leaf out of Bitcoin's book

Treasury Committee to review HMRC's approach to tax avoidance and consider whether overhaul of corporation tax is needed amid row over deal with search giant Google

Upper chamber pushes for income-related measures to be retained

Public appointments watchdog Acoba approves former Defra perm sec's appointment to board of the Office for Nuclear Regulation

Majority of departments will be asked to create new apprenticeships equivalent to 2.3% of their overall staffing levels, BIS confirms

Bankers Fields Wicker-Miurin and Neil Mendoza set to join department

At the Department for Communities and Local Government, Melanie Dawes is busy encouraging civil servants to give up their powers over local public services. She opens up to Suzannah Brecknell about stepping back, asking big questions, and the importance of taking all your holidays

 UK Statistics Authority "deeply concerned" about "unauthorised, widespread sharing of statistics before their publication"

Overall borrowing this year now at £74.2bn,  past the OBR's projection of £68.9bn

Most officials will be aware of cases where “perverse incentives” hamper better service delivery. Joshua Chambers takes a global view of how corporate cannibalism and bare-faced theft can be a recipe for success

Regulator Ofgem’s energy markets inquiry lead Rachel Fletcher appointed for seven-year term

Minister says longstanding errors with online documents could have affected 2,200 divorce settlements