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 eyes new cabinet-level committees to deliver levelling up
09 Nov 2021 Economy
Gove eyes new cabinet-level committees to deliver levelling up
Agenda requires similar structures to those for Brexit and net-zero, minister tells MPs
Home Office offers £140k for DG to work in 'ambiguous and complex environment'
09 Nov 2021 HR
Home Office offers £140k for DG to work in 'ambiguous and complex environment'
Successful candidate for migration and borders role must be a “strong, engaging and collaborative leader”
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
09 Nov 2021 Communications
Ministers' WhatsApp messages covered by FoI, watchdog confirms
Updated guidance recommends copying private messages to corporate email addresses or exporting material regularly
Union members back DVSA de-escalation deal after test dispute
08 Nov 2021 HR
Union members back DVSA de-escalation deal after test dispute
Members have "spoken loudly and clearly" after row over plans to intensify testing schedules
'Highly opaque' SCS recruitment needs urgent reform, report says
08 Nov 2021 Civil Service Reform
'Highly opaque' SCS recruitment needs urgent reform, report says
Limited oversight of internal appointments a "powerful incentive" not to advertise jobs externally, Policy Exchange say
UK still faces Brexit delivery risks, NAO warns
08 Nov 2021 Brexit
UK still faces Brexit delivery risks, NAO warns
Government cannot delay the introduction of import controls “indefinitely”, watchdog says
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 8
08 Nov 2021 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 8
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Attempted standards overhaul 'deeply at odds with democracy', government adviser says
05 Nov 2021 HR
Attempted standards overhaul 'deeply at odds with democracy', government adviser says
"Extraordinary proposal" was "deeply at odds with the best traditions of British democracy", Lords Evans says
DWP ‘needs hiring drive’ to fix pensions woes
05 Nov 2021 HR
DWP ‘needs hiring drive’ to fix pensions woes
Union blames staff shortages and “underpayments correction exercise” for backlog in processing new payments
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'