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 ‘struggling to keep pace’ with reducing violence against women and girls
16 May Justice & Home Affairs
Departments ‘struggling to keep pace’ with reducing violence against women and girls
DWP reverses ban on ChatGPT and other generative AI tools
16 May Digital, Data & Technology
DWP reverses ban on ChatGPT and other generative AI tools
CMA told to prioritise economic growth in priority 'reset'
16 May Economy
CMA told to prioritise economic growth in priority 'reset'
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
05 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
But department’s annual report estimates fraud in Covid support schemes topped £6bn in 2020-21
'Broken' defence procurement system wasting billions, MPs say
04 Nov 2021 Commercial
'Broken' defence procurement system wasting billions, MPs say
PAC 'extremely disappointed and frustrated' that MoD has not learned lessons
Ministers U-turn on plans to reform standards process for MPs
04 Nov 2021 Policy
Ministers U-turn on plans to reform standards process for MPs
Civil service unions dubbed proposals 'absolutely extraordinary' and 'shameful'
HMRC: Digitised income tax will not require paid-for software for ‘straightforward tax affairs’, minister claims
03 Nov 2021 Civil Service Reform
HMRC: Digitised income tax will not require paid-for software for ‘straightforward tax affairs’, minister claims
The department expects a ‘competitive market’ for providers, including various free options
Government to focus on moving out of 'high cost' offices in new estate plan
03 Nov 2021 Civil Service Reform
Government to focus on moving out of 'high cost' offices in new estate plan
Minister reveals renewed focus for property following Spending Review
Top scientist Jeremy Farrar quits SAGE, warning Covid is 'far from over'
03 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Top scientist Jeremy Farrar quits SAGE, warning Covid is 'far from over'
Wellcome Trust director says experts have provided 'vital advice' under 'huge pressure'
'Unfair' to criticise sky-high spending on Covid schemes, Sunak says
02 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
'Unfair' to criticise sky-high spending on Covid schemes, Sunak says
Chancellor defends £37bn spent on test and trace scheme and cost of furlough fraud
Information commissioner succession plans confirmed
02 Nov 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
Information commissioner succession plans confirmed
Elizabeth Denham will remain in post for an extra month and her deputies will take on regulatory duties for a further month until incoming chief John Edwards starts in new year
Ex-officials who break lobbying rules must face 'meaningful sanctions', watchdog says
01 Nov 2021 HR
Ex-officials who break lobbying rules must face 'meaningful sanctions', watchdog says
Greater independent oversight of ministerial code is also needed, Committee on Standards in Public Life says
Cyberattack on environment watchdog pinned on organised crime group
01 Nov 2021 Security & Defence
Cyberattack on environment watchdog pinned on organised crime group
Investigators praise Scottish regulator for openness
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 1
01 Nov 2021 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 1
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Test and trace: shortage of digital and data skills cited as reliance on consultants persists
29 Oct 2021 Coronavirus
Test and trace: shortage of digital and data skills cited as reliance on consultants persists
MPs claim scheme has proven "eye-wateringly expensive" and has not achieved its main objective
'No evidence' conflicts of interest considered in Greensill contract
29 Oct 2021 Commercial
'No evidence' conflicts of interest considered in Greensill contract
NAO report raises "questions over the government’s ability to prevent conflicts of interest", PAC chair says
DfT urged to clarify Crossrail loan repayment plans as costs hit £18.9bn
29 Oct 2021 Finance
DfT urged to clarify Crossrail loan repayment plans as costs hit £18.9bn
Public Accounts Committee also says department needs to set out how it is learning from major project failures
Unions fear Sunak’s pledge to end pay freeze is ‘empty gesture’
28 Oct 2021 HR
Unions fear Sunak’s pledge to end pay freeze is ‘empty gesture’
Prospect questions how civil service uplift will be determined as PCS dubs announcement 'fake news'
Contact tracing: ‘Not possible’ to know how many have enabled NHS Covid-19 app
28 Oct 2021 Coronavirus
Contact tracing: ‘Not possible’ to know how many have enabled NHS Covid-19 app
Senior officials say they cannot ‘make a reliable and consistent calculation’
Treasury can’t define ‘non-frontline civil servant’ despite job cuts plan Exclusive
28 Oct 2021 Civil Service Reform
Treasury can’t define ‘non-frontline civil servant’ despite job cuts plan
Union threatens strike action over 'false distinctions' on operational staff
Budget 2021: Evaluation fund launched as departments agree new priority outcomes
27 Oct 2021 Analysis
Budget 2021: Evaluation fund launched as departments agree new priority outcomes
Treasury pledges to plug evidence gaps as it publishes new priority outcomes
Rishi Sunak overhauls business rates and Universal Credit in his Autumn Budget
27 Oct 2021 Economy
Rishi Sunak overhauls business rates and Universal Credit in his Autumn Budget
Chancellor also announces tax cuts and reforms to Alcohol Duty as he claims the UK is recovering well from the economic impact of the pandemic
Budget 2021: Red Book reveals civil service headcount cuts for ‘non-frontline’ staff
27 Oct 2021 Civil Service Reform
Budget 2021: Red Book reveals civil service headcount cuts for ‘non-frontline’ staff
Move comes as part of plans to unlock 5% efficiency savings
FCDO told to stop focusing on 'fast results' from climate change aid
26 Oct 2021 Finance
FCDO told to stop focusing on 'fast results' from climate change aid
MPs tell department to listen to local and marginalised communities when handling climate finance
Gove pledges to ‘expand, augment and increase’ devolution across UK
26 Oct 2021 Local & Devolved
Gove pledges to ‘expand, augment and increase’ devolution across UK
Move is key to driving economic prosperity and levelling up white paper will set out further detail, says secretary of state
Sunak confirms end to pay freeze – but gives no details on increases
26 Oct 2021 Finance
Sunak confirms end to pay freeze – but gives no details on increases
Government says level of wage rises will be set by review bodies
‘Several policy teams within DHSC did not know’: secrecy over social care reform revealed
25 Oct 2021 Health & Social Care
‘Several policy teams within DHSC did not know’: secrecy over social care reform revealed
Policy teams were not told the date or details of the plan until shortly before the PM announced it