Ex-FCDO perm sec Philip Barton got £260,000 voluntary exit payment
23 Jul HR

Ex-FCDO perm sec Philip Barton got £260,000 voluntary exit payment

Former perm sec's compensation payment payout revealed in department's annual report
by Tevye Markson
UKRI commits extra £168m for public sector data-linking work
24 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
UKRI commits extra £168m for public sector data-linking work
MHCLG to reduce headcount through 'natural turnover' and voluntary exits
24 Jul HR
MHCLG to reduce headcount through 'natural turnover' and voluntary exits
Climate Change Committee gets new chair after two-year search
24 Jul Energy & Environment
Climate Change Committee gets new chair after two-year search
Pat McFadden reaffirms pledge to give civil servants timely pay awards
23 Jul HR
Pat McFadden reaffirms pledge to give civil servants timely pay awards
Pay remit process for 2026-27 kicks off – two months earlier than last year
Office for Life Sciences appoints executive chair
23 Jul HR
Office for Life Sciences appoints executive chair
Steve Bates tasked with “deepening ties” between government and the life-sciences sector
VIDEO: Simon Case introduced to House of Lords
22 Jul Politics & Constitution
VIDEO: Simon Case introduced to House of Lords
Watch Lord Case, former cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, being introduced to the Lords earlier this afternoon
Ofwat to be scrapped: Environment secretary confirms water sector shakeup
22 Jul Civil Service Reform
Ofwat to be scrapped: Environment secretary confirms water sector shakeup
New regulator will also take over responsibility for water functions at Environment Agency, Natural England and Drinking Water Inspectorate
Acoba abolished as McFadden sets out plans for Ethics and Integrity Commission
21 Jul Civil Service Reform
Acoba abolished as McFadden sets out plans for Ethics and Integrity Commission
Committee on Standards in Public Life to become beefed-up commission, while revolving-doors regulator's functions will be split up
Council approves plan to make four-day week permanent
21 Jul HR
Council approves plan to make four-day week permanent
UK-first decision follows fierce opposition from Sunak administration
Home Office perm sec orders review of disciplinary procedures
21 Jul HR
Home Office perm sec orders review of disciplinary procedures
Review launched as report suggests senior Border Force official was found to have breached the department’s policies on appropriate behaviour but faced no formal consequences
Home Office to set up cross-government team to monitor delivery of target to halve VAWG
21 Jul Civil Service Reform
Home Office to set up cross-government team to monitor delivery of target to halve VAWG
Department accepts NAO recommendation and says it is “developing options for this joint team to align with the delivery phase of the upcoming VAWG Strategy”
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 21
21 Jul HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 21
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
NCA officer jailed for stealing Bitcoin he helped to confiscate
18 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
NCA officer jailed for stealing Bitcoin he helped to confiscate
Paul Chowles handed five-and-a-half year sentence after pocketing cryptocurrency from Silk Road 2.0 co-founder
Land Registry staff vote to end industrial action
18 Jul HR
Land Registry staff vote to end industrial action
Officials decide to end work to rule action after negotiating changes to office attendance rules
NAO refuses to sign off Whole of Government Accounts again
18 Jul Finance
NAO refuses to sign off Whole of Government Accounts again
Spending watchdog blames ongoing crisis in local-government audit for “inadequate assurance” over billions of pounds in unaudited data
Deadline for Civil Service Awards nominations extended
18 Jul Civil Service Reform
Deadline for Civil Service Awards nominations extended
This year's awards include a 20th anniversary special Lifetime Achievement Award
Ofsted scoops stats award for work to identify childcare 'deserts'
17 Jul Statistics
Ofsted scoops stats award for work to identify childcare 'deserts'
Project will "empower families and shape the lives of their children for years to come", says UK Statistics Authority chair
Civil Society Covenant: Government promises to 'respect, support and listen' to third sector
17 Jul Civil Service Reform
Civil Society Covenant: Government promises to 'respect, support and listen' to third sector
Newly published covenant aims to "reset relationship" between government and civil society
Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking
17 Jul Economics
Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking
Jeremy Hunt also speaks about the advice he gave to Wes Streeting and why he's not a fan of "mission-driven" government
'Test-and-learn' squads to be sent to 10 areas across England
16 Jul Local & Devolved
'Test-and-learn' squads to be sent to 10 areas across England
Teams of policy officials, tech specialists and other experts will have an “explicit mandate to try new things and be creative"
‘Serious departmental error’: MoD official's Afghan data breach revealed
16 Jul Security & Defence
‘Serious departmental error’: MoD official's Afghan data breach revealed
Information Commissioner's Office says the "deeply regrettable incident" put "thousands of vulnerable people at risk" and "can never happen again"
UK’s capacity to absorb economic shocks is shrinking, OBR chair warns
15 Jul Finance
UK’s capacity to absorb economic shocks is shrinking, OBR chair warns
Richard Hughes says there has been “a de facto willingness” on the part of successive governments to allow debt to continue growing
Treasury hikes threshold for when new salaries require senior minister's approval
15 Jul Civil Service Reform
Treasury hikes threshold for when new salaries require senior minister's approval
Top-level pay controls guidance update also includes new exceptions
Former top civil servants sign letter urging ministers to withdraw guidance on public speaking
14 Jul Communications
Former top civil servants sign letter urging ministers to withdraw guidance on public speaking
Guidance is "causing confusion and a chilling effect on public discussion" and should be withdrawn, experts say
New business-case rules for major projects come into force
14 Jul Finance
New business-case rules for major projects come into force
Treasury issues guidance for departments on new requirements for projects and programmes in the GMPP
DWP reports benefit fraud ‘heading in right direction’
14 Jul Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP reports benefit fraud ‘heading in right direction’
Annual accounts show fraud-and-error rate dipped to 3.3% in 2024-25, down from 3.6% the previous year
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 14
14 Jul HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 14
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People