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
MPs demand answers over £4bn takeover bid for contracting giant G4S
02 Mar 2021 Commercial
MPs demand answers over £4bn takeover bid for contracting giant G4S
Head to head auction and takeover process raises "many questions", PAC chair says
Sunak urged to use Budget to reverse pay freeze plan
02 Mar 2021 Economy
Sunak urged to use Budget to reverse pay freeze plan
PCS union says economic cost of Covid “shouldn’t fall on public sector workers’ shoulders“
Unions vote to accept HMRC's freeze-busting pay deal
01 Mar 2021 Civil Service Reform
Unions vote to accept HMRC's freeze-busting pay deal
Overwhelming backing for pay offer means all civil servants below SCS will get a pay rise
‘Scandal brewing’ over new homes on flood plains, MPs warn
01 Mar 2021 Energy & Environment
‘Scandal brewing’ over new homes on flood plains, MPs warn
Public Accounts Committee says Defra and Environment Agency lack clear picture on quality of defence measures
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — March 1
01 Mar 2021 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — March 1
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
MPs refuse to endorse Home Office pick for next immigration watchdog
26 Feb 2021 HR
MPs refuse to endorse Home Office pick for next immigration watchdog
Despite an "impressive CV", panel says former army officer may not have the skills required for ICIBI role
Civil service career ladder ‘must be broken up’, top No.10 aide says
26 Feb 2021 Civil Service Reform
Civil service career ladder ‘must be broken up’, top No.10 aide says
PM’s deputy chief of staff Simone Finn also backs Teesside as “obvious location” for Treasury’s northern base
Acoba chief Pickles sets out proposals for beefed-up scrutiny of post-government jobs
26 Feb 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Acoba chief Pickles sets out proposals for beefed-up scrutiny of post-government jobs
Boosted transparency and spectre of honours impact form part of anti-corruption watchdog’s drive
Civil Service Awards recognise pandemic innovation and community spirit
25 Feb 2021 Energy & Environment
Civil Service Awards recognise pandemic innovation and community spirit
Cross government employment-aid efforts, apprenticeships drive and founder of eating-disorder support group among latest recipients
MPs question Home Office progress on reform after Covid outbreak at asylum centre
25 Feb 2021 Justice & Home Affairs
MPs question Home Office progress on reform after Covid outbreak at asylum centre
MPs ask if officials are "seeing the face behind the case" after 178 asylum seekers contract virus in a month while held at barracks
Outsourcing giant Serco announces 36% hike in profit
25 Feb 2021 Commercial
Outsourcing giant Serco announces 36% hike in profit
Business insists £400m worth of coronavirus related contracts accounted for less than 1% of increase in underlying trading profit
Treasury finds extra £800m to make Levelling Up Fund UK-wide
25 Feb 2021 Economy
Treasury finds extra £800m to make Levelling Up Fund UK-wide
Cash added to £4bn for “priority local infrastructure” in England set out in November’s Spending Review
MHCLG warned not to over-promise on impact of Wolverhampton HQ
25 Feb 2021 HR
MHCLG warned not to over-promise on impact of Wolverhampton HQ
Think tank says simply moving staff out of London will not transform decision making
June Raine made permanent CEO of medicines regulator
25 Feb 2021 Coronavirus
June Raine made permanent CEO of medicines regulator
DHSC praises “crucial” role in rapid authorisation of Covid vaccines and formalises interim arrangements in place since 2019
Harding: cutting test and trace consultant numbers ‘subject to future demand’
24 Feb 2021 Commercial
Harding: cutting test and trace consultant numbers ‘subject to future demand’
Dido Harding says consultants are "scaling down" work on NHS Test and Trace, but won't commit to longer-term cuts
Gove and Hancock rebuked for failing to appear before Covid-19 probe
24 Feb 2021 Coronavirus
Gove and Hancock rebuked for failing to appear before Covid-19 probe
PACAC chair William Wragg says cabinet ministers should not “shy away from scrutiny”
Government urged to make post-Brexit trade deals more transparent
24 Feb 2021 Brexit
Government urged to make post-Brexit trade deals more transparent
Government urged to commit in law to publishing impact assessments of all post-Brexit free trade deals, including "a clear statement" on their "net benefit to the country".
Government to pilot capability assessments for top civil servants from September
23 Feb 2021 HR
Government to pilot capability assessments for top civil servants from September
Submission to the Senior Salary Review also reveals extension of capability-based pay progression to DGs
PM sets out ‘cautious but irreversible’ roadmap to end lockdown
23 Feb 2021 Coronavirus
PM sets out ‘cautious but irreversible’ roadmap to end lockdown
Schools will reopen to all pupils on 8 March while limits on social gatherings could go in June
All the key dates in Boris Johnson’s roadmap to end lockdown
23 Feb 2021 Coronavirus
All the key dates in Boris Johnson’s roadmap to end lockdown
Four-phase plan includes earliest targets for non-essential shops and pubs to reopen
Hancock defends DHSC in Covid procurement row
23 Feb 2021 Commercial
Hancock defends DHSC in Covid procurement row
Health secretary brushes off questions on High Court transparency decision and says it would be “ridiculous” to stop work being won by acquaintances of ministers
Hancock broke law by failing to publish DHSC coronavirus contracts on time, court finds
22 Feb 2021 Commercial
Hancock broke law by failing to publish DHSC coronavirus contracts on time, court finds
DHSC failed to meet transparency guidance on publishing details of contracts
Union launches judicial review of PM's support for Priti Patel after bullying probe
22 Feb 2021 HR
Union launches judicial review of PM's support for Priti Patel after bullying probe
FDA's legal action will seek to overturn Boris Johnson's staff that Patel did not break the ministerial code
Anti-corruption watchdog reports surge in new-job casework
22 Feb 2021 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Anti-corruption watchdog reports surge in new-job casework
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments also flags concerns about arm’s-length bodies and resourcing woes