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
Spending Review will upgrade ageing tech and fund AI – Vallance
24 Feb Digital, Data & Technology
Spending Review will upgrade ageing tech and fund AI – Vallance
Minister and ex-chief scientist says Reeves's first Spending Review will enable support for deployment of new tech
Ex-cabinet minister recounts ‘damaging’ Treasury exceptionalism
21 Feb Finance
Ex-cabinet minister recounts ‘damaging’ Treasury exceptionalism
John Denham describes department as “a law unto itself” that would do destructive things to other parts of government without consultation
PCS seeks urgent meeting with defence secretary over plans for 'leaner' MoD
21 Feb Security & Defence
PCS seeks urgent meeting with defence secretary over plans for 'leaner' MoD
Department insists there are "no plans for redundancies"
Manchester Digital Campus gets planning green light
21 Feb Property & Estates
Manchester Digital Campus gets planning green light
Redevelopment at former retail park site will provide offices for 7,000 civil servants
FCDO whistleblower hopes to get job back
20 Feb Foreign Affairs
FCDO whistleblower hopes to get job back
Josie Stewart, who won her case against unfair dismissal this week, says she "still has a lot to contribute"
UK departments need ‘new machinery’ to manage Trump risks, IfG says
20 Feb Foreign Affairs
UK departments need ‘new machinery’ to manage Trump risks, IfG says
Think tank argues government must develop a coordinated way of reacting to challenges created by new US administration
HMRC takes action on complaints after spike in referrals to adjudicator
19 Feb Government Tax Profession
HMRC takes action on complaints after spike in referrals to adjudicator
Tax agency says it has improved its performance after implementing recommendations from the Adjudicator's Office
Hancock speaks up for civil servants over ‘blocker’ accusations
19 Feb Health & Social Care
Hancock speaks up for civil servants over ‘blocker’ accusations
Former health secretary says initiatives usually fail because of opposition from the PM or secretaries of state
Ex-FCDO official wins 'landmark' whistleblowing case
19 Feb Civil Service Reform
Ex-FCDO official wins 'landmark' whistleblowing case
Whistleblower Josie Stewart says judgment establishes that “civil servants have the right not to stay silent when systemic failures put lives at risk”
John Healey unveils 'biggest shake up of UK defence for over 50 years'
18 Feb Civil Service Reform
John Healey unveils 'biggest shake up of UK defence for over 50 years'
Defence secretary says his reform programme will strengthen accountability, reduce duplication and enable “extraordinary” officials to thrive
Alex Chisholm joins major consultancy firm
18 Feb HR
Alex Chisholm joins major consultancy firm
Watchdog notes former Cabinet Office perm sec's role in approving government contracts with Boston Consulting Group – but plays down corruption risk
‘Incoherent approach’ to sentencing blamed for prisons crisis
18 Feb Justice & Home Affairs
‘Incoherent approach’ to sentencing blamed for prisons crisis
Gauke review says “knee-jerk response” of locking criminals up for longer without evidence of any benefit is a major factor
Government estate shrinks as MoD rationalises its property portolio
17 Feb Security & Defence
Government estate shrinks as MoD rationalises its property portolio
Office and jobcentre closures have also contributed to reduction in government buildings
MPs back borders inspector pick – but give Finland-based candidate WFH warning
17 Feb HR
MPs back borders inspector pick – but give Finland-based candidate WFH warning
Home Affairs Committee approves appointment of John Tuckett as independent chief inspector of borders and immigration
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – February 17
17 Feb HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – February 17
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs this week, via Dods People
Government to explore potential for ‘wider reform’ of inquiries system
14 Feb Justice & Home Affairs
Government to explore potential for ‘wider reform’ of inquiries system
Cabinet Office sets out approach to reform in response to House of Lords report
Ministers mull creating 'Commercial Innovation Hub' for departments
14 Feb Commercial
Ministers mull creating 'Commercial Innovation Hub' for departments
National Public Procurement Strategy looks to better align spending with government's five missions
Home Office's Prevent strategy is 'confused', former counter-extremism tsar says
14 Feb Justice & Home Affairs
Home Office's Prevent strategy is 'confused', former counter-extremism tsar says
"I genuinely don't know what the role of Prevent is anymore,” ex-commissioner Dame Sara Khan says
Treasury perm sec pledges probe into OBR forecast 'leak'
13 Feb Analysis
Treasury perm sec pledges probe into OBR forecast 'leak'
James Bowler tells MPs release of data not intended for publication is "deeply unwelcome"
Matthew Rycroft to step down as Home Office perm sec
13 Feb HR
Matthew Rycroft to step down as Home Office perm sec
Former ambassador praises "tremendous work" of Home Office civil servants in message announcing his departure
Award celebrating statistical excellence in civil service opens for entries
13 Feb Digital, Data & Technology
Award celebrating statistical excellence in civil service opens for entries
Royal Statistical Society welcomes nominations for projects that demonstrate innovation in the delivery of data
Manston asylum centre: Home Office confirms details of inquiry
12 Feb Justice & Home Affairs
Manston asylum centre: Home Office confirms details of inquiry
Ministers encourage current and former public officials to "cooperate" with inquiry into conditions at the site
Don't blame civil servants for Northern Ireland overspend, union says
12 Feb Finance
Don't blame civil servants for Northern Ireland overspend, union says
Politicians urged not to "scapegoat" civil servants after MLA blasts "scale of financial mismanagement" in the NICS
DWP could face further security staff strikes
12 Feb HR
DWP could face further security staff strikes
PCS union balloting security guard contractors on further industrial action over pay and conditions