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
Leslie Evans ‘very willing’ to answer questions on Alex Salmond staff advice
25 Aug 2020 HR
Leslie Evans ‘very willing’ to answer questions on Alex Salmond staff advice
Scottish Government perm sec writes letter to MSPs after controversy surrounding harassment inquiry appearance
Crooks hijack Government Legal Department's phone number
25 Aug 2020 Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Crooks hijack Government Legal Department's phone number
GLD issues warning about enquiry number showing up on calls from fraudsters
A-Level row: Stats society criticises Ofqual's 'desperate' defence of NDA that 'would have gagged experts for five years'
25 Aug 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
A-Level row: Stats society criticises Ofqual's 'desperate' defence of NDA that 'would have gagged experts for five years'
Watchdog chair says RSS caused “misunderstanding and suspicion of Ofqual’s process” after experts refused to sign gagging clause
Pritchard set to leave GDS for new role at Office for National Statistics
25 Aug 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Pritchard set to leave GDS for new role at Office for National Statistics
Government Digital Service chief operating officer Fiona Deans will take over as interim director
DHSC draws up ‘moon shot’ plan to expand coronavirus testing to millions a day
24 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
DHSC draws up ‘moon shot’ plan to expand coronavirus testing to millions a day
Department has reportedly drafted in Deloitte to work on mass-testing regime aimed at asymptomatic carriers
Home Office immigration charge hitting NHS trusts with £15m in fees to use overseas staff
24 Aug 2020 Health & Social Care
Home Office immigration charge hitting NHS trusts with £15m in fees to use overseas staff
Worst-hit trust has paid out £2m in fees to employ foreign workers since 2017, FoI response shows
DfE drafts in second perm sec to support response to A-Level grade row
24 Aug 2020 Education
DfE drafts in second perm sec to support response to A-Level grade row
HMCTS chief brought in “to ensure that the government is able to respond fully to exam results, whilst also ensuring the return of schools in September”
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
21 Aug 2020 Communications
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
PCS says centralisation drive could put thousands of staff at risk and give No.10 "unprecedented control"
Shapps launches ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up transport infrastructure projects
21 Aug 2020 Project Delivery
Shapps launches ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up transport infrastructure projects
Move comes as Crossrail bosses reveal line will cost an extra £450m and not open until 2022
Price of MI6 spymaster’s former lair is no secret
21 Aug 2020 Property & Estates
Price of MI6 spymaster’s former lair is no secret
Whitehall Court penthouse in former Secret Intelligence Service HQ goes on market for £5.5m
Tory grandee Francis Maude gets second run at civil service reform
21 Aug 2020 Civil Service Reform
Tory grandee Francis Maude gets second run at civil service reform
Ex-Cabinet Office minister and Conservative peer brought in to lead Cabinet Office review
Jenkin speaks out over scapegoating of civil servants
21 Aug 2020 Civil Service Reform
Jenkin speaks out over scapegoating of civil servants
Chair of parliament’s powerful Liaison Committee says ministerial buck-passing risks hampering government’s effectiveness
Louise Casey quits government rough sleeping review role
21 Aug 2020 Health & Social Care
Louise Casey quits government rough sleeping review role
Former Troubled Families tsar says appointment to House of Lords contributed to decision
DfE gives full backing to Ofqual over A-Level and GCSE grade fiasco after Gavin Williamson refused to
20 Aug 2020 Education
DfE gives full backing to Ofqual over A-Level and GCSE grade fiasco after Gavin Williamson refused to
DfE says it has "full confidence" in exam regulator as it emerges the department was warned the grading system could lead to incorrect results
Scottish Government perm sec reported to head of civil service over refusal to answer question in Salmond inquiry
20 Aug 2020 HR
Scottish Government perm sec reported to head of civil service over refusal to answer question in Salmond inquiry
Top Tory writes to Mark Sedwill saying Leslie Evans may have broken the Civil Service Code by not answering MSP's question
MoJ hits ‘pause’ on coronavirus early-release scheme for prisoners
20 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
MoJ hits ‘pause’ on coronavirus early-release scheme for prisoners
Data shows at least 275 inmates have been freed from jail ahead of time under pandemic programme
Stats regulator to review Ofqual algorithm used to award A-Level grades
19 Aug 2020 Statistics
Stats regulator to review Ofqual algorithm used to award A-Level grades
OSR will consider exam regulators' compliance with its Code of Practice for Statistics, after government U-turn on results
'The privilege of my career': Selbie's farewell to Public Health England as NHSBSA head becomes chief exec
19 Aug 2020 Health & Social Care
'The privilege of my career': Selbie's farewell to Public Health England as NHSBSA head becomes chief exec
"You are the rock stars of the health and care system," Selbie tells PHE staff as Michael Brodie becomes interim chief exec
Matt Hancock says Dido Harding has ‘huge’ experience amid row over major public health shake-up
19 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Matt Hancock says Dido Harding has ‘huge’ experience amid row over major public health shake-up
“That is a massive logistical operation," Hancock says, defending former TalkTalk boss's experience
Scottish Government was ‘ahead of the pack’ with harassment policy, perm sec says
18 Aug 2020 HR
Scottish Government was ‘ahead of the pack’ with harassment policy, perm sec says
But Leslie Evans accepts policy used to investigate complaints against Alex Salmond was "designed as an HR procedure, not a legal instrument"
Hancock confirms Public Health England axed with test and trace boss Dido Harding to lead replacement body
18 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock confirms Public Health England axed with test and trace boss Dido Harding to lead replacement body
Harding will be interim head of the National Institute for Health Protection, which will aim to tackle threats like biological weapons and pandemics
McKinsey banks £560,000 consulting on “vision, purpose and narrative” for new test and trace body Exclusive
18 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
McKinsey banks £560,000 consulting on “vision, purpose and narrative” for new test and trace body
DHSC drafted in consultancy to help plan permanent organisation to manage coronavirus programme
MPs demand Dominic Cummings explain 'unclear' role in defence review
18 Aug 2020 Security & Defence
MPs demand Dominic Cummings explain 'unclear' role in defence review
Defence Committee chair Tobias Ellwood says Boris Johnson’s chief spad has twice been called to give evidence
Major departments show marked decline in prompt-payment performance
18 Aug 2020 Commercial
Major departments show marked decline in prompt-payment performance
Data shows suppliers have been waiting longer to be paid as government deals with coronavirus crisis