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
Gove confirms return-to-work drive for civil service has been halted
22 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Gove confirms return-to-work drive for civil service has been halted
Cabinet Office minister says plan to see 80% of staff back at their workplaces by end of month has been ditched as second spike of coronavirus approaches
‘PM must choose’: Johnson faces further calls to clarify Dido Harding’s role
22 Sep 2020 Civil Service Reform
‘PM must choose’: Johnson faces further calls to clarify Dido Harding’s role
Dual work as public-health head and Conservative peer ‘blurs the fundamental distinction that officials cannot act in a party political way’, Downing Street is warned
BEIS permanent secretary seeking £130k successor for her old job
22 Sep 2020 Economy
BEIS permanent secretary seeking £130k successor for her old job
Senior roles in business department key to ‘leading Britain’s recovery from coronavirus’, candidates told
Rail franchising system scrapped
21 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Rail franchising system scrapped
New ‘recovery’ contracts given to rail firms ahead of new system coming into force
Government accused of breaking civil service rules on Harding appointment
21 Sep 2020 Civil Service Reform
Government accused of breaking civil service rules on Harding appointment
Appointing Dido Harding to head up the National Institute for Health Protection is a breach of the civil service code, Labour peers claim
NAO to probe transparency of government procurement during pandemic
21 Sep 2020 Commercial
NAO to probe transparency of government procurement during pandemic
Auditor general says spending watchdog will produce ‘detailed piece of work’
Top civil servant’s art collection set to go under the hammer
21 Sep 2020 Culture
Top civil servant’s art collection set to go under the hammer
Former National Economic Development Office director-general Sir Ronald McIntosh sought out up-and-coming talent
Companies House unveils clampdown on identity fraud among reforms
21 Sep 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Companies House unveils clampdown on identity fraud among reforms
BEIS executive agency to bar appointment of directors until verification checks are performed
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — September 21
21 Sep 2020
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — September 21
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Home Office has ‘too much’ immigration enforcement information, but ‘not the right sort’
18 Sep 2020 Justice & Home Affairs
Home Office has ‘too much’ immigration enforcement information, but ‘not the right sort’
Damning PAC report accuses department of formulating policy on “anecdote, assumption and prejudice” and of showing “little concern” for the human impact of its failures
Minister rejects call for written directions to be expanded to policy amid Internal Market Bill concerns
18 Sep 2020 Brexit
Minister rejects call for written directions to be expanded to policy amid Internal Market Bill concerns
Civil servants told that go-ahead from new cabinet secretary is only assurance they need to work on controversial legislation
Union berates government for silence over 10% pay demand
18 Sep 2020 HR
Union berates government for silence over 10% pay demand
PCS says long-overdue response to official parliament petition shows ministers' "disregard" for staff
Boris Johnson says civil service must ‘respond faster and better’ to needs of public
17 Sep 2020 Civil Service Reform
Boris Johnson says civil service must ‘respond faster and better’ to needs of public
Prime minister tells watchdog MPs he is not “shy of reform” but insists changes won’t be made in a “spirit of disapproval”
Education secretary fails to back officials over A-Level grades row
17 Sep 2020 Education
Education secretary fails to back officials over A-Level grades row
Gavin Williamson would not be drawn on whether he was happy with the advice he had been given by senior DfE officials
DCMS to plan for 'increased responsibilities' amid Covid in five-year organisational blueprint
17 Sep 2020 Civil Service Reform
DCMS to plan for 'increased responsibilities' amid Covid in five-year organisational blueprint
US-based consultancy Bain will work on a cost plan as part of the review in £900k deal
Unions accuse Hancock of failing to ‘properly consult’ over creation of NIHP
16 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Unions accuse Hancock of failing to ‘properly consult’ over creation of NIHP
Civil service unions have serious concerns over the new health body
HMRC signs £2m deal to connect 27 offices with wide-area network
16 Sep 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC signs £2m deal to connect 27 offices with wide-area network
Tax agency agrees two-year contract with specialist cloud, networks and telecoms technology firm
Pandemic pressures push civil service headcount higher, ONS reports
16 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Pandemic pressures push civil service headcount higher, ONS reports
Quarterly figures show staff numbers grew by 3,600 between March and June, with Department for Work and Pensions posting biggest rise
Government ‘has scaled back adverts for coronavirus tests in bid to reduce demand’
16 Sep 2020 Communications
Government ‘has scaled back adverts for coronavirus tests in bid to reduce demand’
Exclusive from PoliticsHome: Move comes as government insists it is working hard to increase capacity
NHS contact tracing app to launch this month amid increasing test concerns
15 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
NHS contact tracing app to launch this month amid increasing test concerns
App launch announced as NHS Providers accuses government of not “being as open” with testing capacity problems
Department denies chair shortage is hampering return-to-work drive
15 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Department denies chair shortage is hampering return-to-work drive
Report suggests Whitehall faces a “bum fight” for seats after chairs are sent to civil servants’ homes for lockdown
Priti Patel tight-lipped on ‘completed’ probe into bullying claims
15 Sep 2020 HR
Priti Patel tight-lipped on ‘completed’ probe into bullying claims
Home secretary refuses to endorse publication of Cabinet Office report into allegations about her treatment of staff
National Data Strategy promises to ‘tackle government culture of risk aversion’
14 Sep 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
National Data Strategy promises to ‘tackle government culture of risk aversion’
Document sets out ‘transforming government’s use of data’ as one of five missions
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — September 14
14 Sep 2020 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — September 14
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People