News

Philip Rycroft has spent much of his career working on devolution – the biggest force for change in the UK’s government until the EU referendum. He led the Department for Exiting the European Union from 2017 to the end of March this year, helping government try to deliver the result of that referendum. Suzannah Brecknell caught up with him to find out more about why that’s been so hard, and what Brexit means for devolution. 

National Audit Office calls for ‘systematic approach’ to assessing capability and effectiveness of ODA spending

MoJ rejects call to review Transforming Rehabilitation reforms in long-delayed response to 2018 Justice Committee report

£940,000 bill does not include VAT or cost of departmental officials' time

Former director general for EU exit has been interim permanent secretary since April

Department highlights training of mental health first aiders globally as part of its efforts to improve further

After working on some of the first “green investment” schemes in the 1990s, Emma Howard Boyd has relished the chance to get closer to the action as chair of the Environment Agency. But, she tells Mark Smulian, she’s still keeping a keen eye on the money, as the agency strives to protect communities and businesses as well as people and plants

Inspectorate sounds alarm after finding high levels of violence and self-harm at HMP Bristol

This article from BT outlines how focusing on user experience can drive productivity, better engagement and attract the best talent

Grade 6 post will have join team developing the National Data Strategy

Theresa May announces boost to powers of Competition and Markets Authority to improve protection for consumers

Department would draw up plans for multi-billion pound "shared prosperity fund", Stewart says

Tech giant announced that next version of iOS will permit third-party access to near-field communications

Union says foreign secretary wrote to Interserve “expressing unhappiness” over treatment of contract workers

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

Singh review finds poor coordination and outdated IT systems made it difficult to find everyone affected by demands for DNA evidence

Department’s chief digital information officer tells Civil Service World about transforming working practices and service delivery at the UK tax authority, and why improving diversity starts with leaders who are self-aware

Developer hands over state-of-the-art base for HMRC and Office of the Advocate General

Does it really matter who represents your department at stakeholder meetings – or whether you’ve done a secondment outside Whitehall? Yes, says insider-turned-outsider John Dowie, who moved to work for First Bus after a 27-year civil service career. Here, sharing his observations of government from the other side, he explains why

£22bn scheme has exposed the government to significant risk and has tied up significant public financial capacity says NAO

Permanent secretary admits there is "more we can do" to improve access to education stats

Seven months after launching recruitment campaign, department reveals interim digital chief will continue in role

Speaking at a think-tank event, Lord Macpherson also offered thoughts on the economy to incoming prime minister, while Treasury Select Committee chair said a full leadership contest is needed “so the maddest ideas perhaps don’t make it to asking for official civil service advice”. 

Other initiatives unveiled in hotly anticipated strategy include a cross-government plan to ‘tackle legacy technology’