New civil service training 'will raise standards and reduce reliance on consultants'
15 Jan Civil Service Reform

New civil service training 'will raise standards and reduce reliance on consultants'

Updated curriculum will reduce risk of duplication and offer better value for money, Cabinet Office says
by Beckie Smith
HMRC pledges to publish more data on unpaid tax
15 Jan Economics
HMRC pledges to publish more data on unpaid tax
MHCLG ‘underestimated rough-sleeper numbers sevenfold’
14 Jan Local & Devolved
MHCLG ‘underestimated rough-sleeper numbers sevenfold’
Government shakes up digital leadership
14 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
Government shakes up digital leadership
Civil servants could get military-style training at Sandhurst, PM says
14 Jan Civil Service Reform
Civil servants could get military-style training at Sandhurst, PM says
Boris Johnson also calls free school meals parcels a "disgrace" at Liaison Committee session
Civil Service Awards: see the full shortlist
14 Jan Commercial
Civil Service Awards: see the full shortlist
After a year in which public servants’ resilience and ingenuity has been truly tested, the nominations for the Civil Service Awards recognise the unparalleled efforts that have gone into the pandemic response
MoD’s equipment plan ‘unaffordable’ for fourth year running
14 Jan Security & Defence
MoD’s equipment plan ‘unaffordable’ for fourth year running
Decade-long strategy projected to be £7.3bn over budget and figure could rise by a further £10.1bn, says NAO
PM signals more civil service reform as Michael Barber to lead delivery review
13 Jan Civil Service Reform
PM signals more civil service reform as Michael Barber to lead delivery review
Rapid review to make delivery more “focused, effective and efficient”
Education secretary ‘absolutely disgusted’ by contractor’s school-meal parcel
13 Jan Coronavirus
Education secretary ‘absolutely disgusted’ by contractor’s school-meal parcel
Gavin Williamson says DfE will name and shame firms not delivering against its standards as voucher scheme is reintroduced
Civil service COO and Cabinet Office perm sec role should be split, says Maude
13 Jan Civil Service Reform
Civil service COO and Cabinet Office perm sec role should be split, says Maude
Reforming ex-minister tells MPs he believes “head of civil service” post should alternate between cabinet secretary and COO
MPs say ‘litany of failures’ leaves citizens facing many years of slow broadband
12 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
MPs say ‘litany of failures’ leaves citizens facing many years of slow broadband
Public Accounts Committee criticises DCMS and points to need for more funding and legislative changes
Sunak warns ‘badly damaged’ public finances ‘will need repair’
12 Jan Coronavirus
Sunak warns ‘badly damaged’ public finances ‘will need repair’
Chancellor suggests he will not use March Budget to spend nation out of economic doldrums
97% of civil servants want work from home option in future – survey
12 Jan Civil Service Reform
97% of civil servants want work from home option in future – survey
Union poll signals "permanent shift in attitudes to working practices"
War on Whitehall 'changed absolutely nothing', former top civil servant says
11 Jan Civil Service Reform
War on Whitehall 'changed absolutely nothing', former top civil servant says
Changes made in 2020 "shouldn’t be mistaken for a programme of civil service reform", Ciaran Martin writes
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — January 11
11 Jan HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — January 11
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
11 Jan Communications
HMRC records 12% spike in complaints as customer-service issues continue
November stats show another increase in call-waiting times and new struggles with answering online and postal queries
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
08 Jan Science & Engineering
Government 'not open enough' about science advice for Covid-19 measures, MPs say
Transparency around how SAGE works has improved, but lessons have been applied "inconsistently"
Civil service ‘must treat vaccine rollout as a military operation’
08 Jan Coronavirus
Civil service ‘must treat vaccine rollout as a military operation’
Former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith accuses officials of being culturally programmed to miss targets
Spending watchdog warns of pressures piling up for 'already stretched' MoJ
08 Jan Coronavirus
Spending watchdog warns of pressures piling up for 'already stretched' MoJ
Snapshot report contrasts shortage of prison places with boosted sentencing projections and delayed court hearings
Treasury head Tom Scholar reappointed after year of perm secs churn
07 Jan HR
Treasury head Tom Scholar reappointed after year of perm secs churn
Second five-year term comes despite Scholar's appearance on reported No.10 "hit list" of top civil servants to be replaced
Government ‘working towards’ publishing new digital strategy this year
07 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
Government ‘working towards’ publishing new digital strategy this year
Plan was due to be published in autumn last year
Home Office seeks next counter-terrorism chief
07 Jan HR
Home Office seeks next counter-terrorism chief
Up to £140,000 on offer to lead Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
Heywood Foundation seeks ideas to transform public services post-Covid
06 Jan Coronavirus
Heywood Foundation seeks ideas to transform public services post-Covid
Up to £25,000 up for grabs in Heywood Foundation Public Policy Prize
Treasury ‘risks wasting money’ by allowing Covid schemes to cushion Brexit
06 Jan Brexit
Treasury ‘risks wasting money’ by allowing Covid schemes to cushion Brexit
IfG urges Rishi Sunak to avoid propping up companies that will not survive EU exit with pandemic aid
Nurse and NHS chief to lead DHSC’s multibillion-pound hospital programme
05 Jan Health & Social Care
Nurse and NHS chief to lead DHSC’s multibillion-pound hospital programme
Natalie Forrest to oversee plans to "build 40 new hospitals by 2030" after leading Nightingale construction
Privately educated more likely to land Fast Stream place, data shows
05 Jan HR
Privately educated more likely to land Fast Stream place, data shows
Civil service’s flagship graduate programme harder to access for applicants who went to state schools
PM announces new lockdown for England as Covid cases soar
05 Jan Coronavirus
PM announces new lockdown for England as Covid cases soar
Announcement comes after chief medical officers raise pandemic alert level to 5
Antonia Romeo named MoJ permanent secretary
04 Jan HR
Antonia Romeo named MoJ permanent secretary
DIT perm sec moves back to department where she spent 'majority of her career'