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
Senior civil servants must declare second jobs, Case tells perm secs amid Greensill row
15 Apr 2021 Commercial
Senior civil servants must declare second jobs, Case tells perm secs amid Greensill row
Case wrote to perm secs after revelation former top official Bill Crothers was a part-time adviser to the firm
Auditor sought to scrutinise work of MoJ
15 Apr 2021 Internal Audit
Auditor sought to scrutinise work of MoJ
Government Internal Audit Agency offers up to £117,800 a year for the right candidate
Government disbands LGBT+ panel after three advisers quit over 'hostility'
14 Apr 2021 HR
Government disbands LGBT+ panel after three advisers quit over 'hostility'
Chair quit last month saying ministers had created "hostile environment" for LGBT+ people
Test and Trace hired £40,000-a-day digital team after failure ‘to source civil servants with these skills’
14 Apr 2021 Coronavirus
Test and Trace hired £40,000-a-day digital team after failure ‘to source civil servants with these skills’
Procurement data reveals consultancy brought in to cover six-month drive to recruit specialists
Dstl to set up Newcastle outpost
14 Apr 2021 Security & Defence
Dstl to set up Newcastle outpost
Unit will be based at the National Innovation Centre for Data
Top commercial official ‘worked for civil service and Greensill at same time’
14 Apr 2021 Commercial
Top commercial official ‘worked for civil service and Greensill at same time’
Anti-corruption watchdog tells Cabinet Office to publish its conflicts of interest policy as clearance loophole emerges
PM orders inquiry into David Cameron and Greensill lobbying row
13 Apr 2021 Commercial
PM orders inquiry into David Cameron and Greensill lobbying row
Probe comes after “significant interest in this matter", spokesperson says
DHSC spending £40,000 a week on consultants to develop business case for new health agency Exclusive
13 Apr 2021 Commercial
DHSC spending £40,000 a week on consultants to develop business case for new health agency
PwC has helped draft business case for Treasury, hire staff and prepare for the Spending Review
DWP staff ‘angry’ over pandemic safety at jobcentres
13 Apr 2021 Coronavirus
DWP staff ‘angry’ over pandemic safety at jobcentres
Union says strike action could follow “reckless” increase of face-to-face interviews
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
12 Apr 2021 Communications
Departments go quiet amid mourning for Prince Philip
Government will not make public announcements or issue press releases unless they are necessary for public safety
Soon-to-retire officials stand in the way of tackling 'cronyism', senior MP says amid Greensill scandal
12 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Soon-to-retire officials stand in the way of tackling 'cronyism', senior MP says amid Greensill scandal
Civil servants and politicians nearing the end of government careers "don't want to have the conversation", Bernard Jenkin says
Independent commission calls for Spending Reviews to be dumped
12 Apr 2021 Finance
Independent commission calls for Spending Reviews to be dumped
Panel also calls for departmental boards to get greater powers to scrutinise top officials’ performance
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — April 12
12 Apr 2021 HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — April 12
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Look out the suitcase: Grant Shapps says people can start planning foreign holidays again
09 Apr 2021 Coronavirus
Look out the suitcase: Grant Shapps says people can start planning foreign holidays again
Department for Transport set to publish a traffic light travel system to provide information on safe destinations
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
09 Apr 2021 Commercial
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
Chancellor ‘pushed officials to explore options’ messages reveal, but no support was agreed
Former ethics chief Sue Gray returns to Cabinet Office as second perm sec
08 Apr 2021 HR
Former ethics chief Sue Gray returns to Cabinet Office as second perm sec
Whitehall comeback follows three years running Northern Ireland’s Department of Finance
Union claims strong support for DVLA strike
08 Apr 2021 Coronavirus
Union claims strong support for DVLA strike
PCS says more than 1,400 members walked out of agency’s Swansea HQ on first day of Covid-safety dispute
Home Office appoints director of homeland security
08 Apr 2021 HR
Home Office appoints director of homeland security
Former National Cyber Security Centre strategy director will lead Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
MHCLG drops plans for new algorithm method to calculate housing need
08 Apr 2021 Local & Devolved
MHCLG drops plans for new algorithm method to calculate housing need
Move follows backlash over predicted increase in rural and suburban development rather than urban regeneration
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
07 Apr 2021 Communications
Cabinet Office in £15m research drive to gauge public attitudes to government policies
Market-research companies will poll public and businesses on EU exit, coronavirus and other No.10 priorities
Liz Truss to move into Ian Fleming's old office as DIT moves to Old Admiralty Building
07 Apr 2021 HR
Liz Truss to move into Ian Fleming's old office as DIT moves to Old Admiralty Building
Move intended to "bring the department closer together operationally and geographically"
Government hiring a £3,750-a-week consultant to ‘normalise testing as part of everyday life’
07 Apr 2021 Communications
Government hiring a £3,750-a-week consultant to ‘normalise testing as part of everyday life’
Communications role to develop plan to support expansion of asymptomatic testing
Dstl chief exec Gary Aitkenhead quits to take up private-sector role
07 Apr 2021 Security & Defence
Dstl chief exec Gary Aitkenhead quits to take up private-sector role
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory COO Doug Umbers will serve as interim chief
Government to trial vaccine passports as PM confirms next stage of lockdown easing
06 Apr 2021 Coronavirus
Government to trial vaccine passports as PM confirms next stage of lockdown easing
Possible role for ‘Covid-status certification’ discussed as Cabinet Office review continues