NAO to probe government’s PPE procurement amid concern £150m spent on 'unusable' masks
07 Aug Commercial

NAO to probe government’s PPE procurement amid concern £150m spent on 'unusable' masks

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove says officials ‘balanced the urgent need for PPE with the requirement to obtain value for money’
by Alain Tolhurst and Richard Johnstone
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — August 10
10 Aug HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — August 10
Labour demands ‘rapid reform’ of coronavirus contact tracing system with call to cut outsourcing funding
10 Aug Commercial
Labour demands ‘rapid reform’ of coronavirus contact tracing system with call to cut outsourcing funding
Palmerston miaows out: Foreign Office mouser to retire
07 Aug HR
Palmerston miaows out: Foreign Office mouser to retire
PCS demands better pay and conditions for Interserve workers at government departments
31 Jul
PCS demands better pay and conditions for Interserve workers at government departments
Union says cleaners, security guards, catering staff and other contractors have been treated like "second class members of the civil service"
Ex-civil service chief Bob Kerslake drafted in for major Labour review as Starmer eyes internal shake-up
30 Jul
Ex-civil service chief Bob Kerslake drafted in for major Labour review as Starmer eyes internal shake-up
Review will look at how the party can become "a more agile, cohesive and purposeful organisation"
Covid-19 exposed 'decades of underfunding' and neglect of social-care sector, report finds
30 Jul Coronavirus
Covid-19 exposed 'decades of underfunding' and neglect of social-care sector, report finds
Social care sector entered pandemic "underfunded, understaffed and at risk of collapse"
The name's Moore: Foreign Office political director named head of MI6
30 Jul HR
The name's Moore: Foreign Office political director named head of MI6
Former ambassador Richard Moore succeeds Sir Alex Younger as “C”
'New radicals': Barclay reveals what Treasury will get and give in Spending Review
29 Jul Civil Service Reform
'New radicals': Barclay reveals what Treasury will get and give in Spending Review
Chief secretary reveals a civil servant found £1.3bn in savings as he sets out plans for better use of data
Boost free school meals to avert ‘slow-motion disaster’ of hunger and malnutrition, ministers urged
29 Jul Coronavirus
Boost free school meals to avert ‘slow-motion disaster’ of hunger and malnutrition, ministers urged
Coronavirus pandemic likely to leave a “miserable” legacy of rising unemployment, poverty and hunger, National Food Strategy says
Government threw care homes ‘to the wolves’ amid coronavirus pandemic, MPs say
29 Jul Coronavirus
Government threw care homes ‘to the wolves’ amid coronavirus pandemic, MPs say
DHSC “does not know" how many of the 25,000 patients discharged to care homes between 17 March and 15 April had Covid-19
Government urged to up pay for project managers to deliver infrastructure boost
29 Jul Economy
Government urged to up pay for project managers to deliver infrastructure boost
Committee warns of possible white elephants in Boris Johnson’s ‘Build Build Build’ drive
Coronavirus: Foreign Office ‘too slow‘ to repatriate Brits stranded abroad when pandemic hit
28 Jul Coronavirus
Coronavirus: Foreign Office ‘too slow‘ to repatriate Brits stranded abroad when pandemic hit
MPs praise staff for work in “challenging conditions" of Covid-19
Downing Street defends 'back to work' push for civil servants after PCS slams ‘unacceptable’ plan
28 Jul HR
Downing Street defends 'back to work' push for civil servants after PCS slams ‘unacceptable’ plan
PM spokesman says each department will need to provide assurance that government workplaces are Covid-secure
Fundamental review of civil service pay needed to drive reform: departing Sedwill’s Whitehall reflections
28 Jul Civil Service Reform
Fundamental review of civil service pay needed to drive reform: departing Sedwill’s Whitehall reflections
Cabinet secretary sets out possible roadmap for government, including new model to drive service integration and performance framework
Government didn't understand coronavirus in the ‘first few weeks and months’ of pandemic, says PM
27 Jul Coronavirus
Government didn't understand coronavirus in the ‘first few weeks and months’ of pandemic, says PM
Boris Johnson says he will ‘double down’ on his election-winning pledges as country emerges from Covid-19
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — July 27
27 Jul HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — July 27
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Push for civil servants to return to workplaces 'unacceptable', union says
27 Jul Coronavirus
Push for civil servants to return to workplaces 'unacceptable', union says
PCS tells officials who are instructed to get back to offices: "don’t just accept that’s what you have to do”
‘Everybody has been doing the most incredible work. I’m very impressed’: Queen’s tribute to FCO staff
27 Jul Foreign Affairs
‘Everybody has been doing the most incredible work. I’m very impressed’: Queen’s tribute to FCO staff
Head of state praises department’s coronavirus work on virtual visit as portrait is unveiled
Cabinet Office creates Brexit transition comms hub in countdown to 31 December
24 Jul Brexit
Cabinet Office creates Brexit transition comms hub in countdown to 31 December
Check, Change, Go campaign launched with lessons from Get Ready for Brexit review, says Cabinet Office perm sec
Public appointments data: more people with disabilities on public boards, but ethnic diversity down
24 Jul HR
Public appointments data: more people with disabilities on public boards, but ethnic diversity down
The Cabinet Office has said it wants to diversify public appointments. But what progress do the latest figures show towards its targets?
Home Office investigates spending breach and launches 'finance improvement programme'
24 Jul Corporate Finance
Home Office investigates spending breach and launches 'finance improvement programme'
Department knew it risked breaching net cash requirement but decided a tech solution to spot breaches was too complex and costly, perm sec says
Sharma overrode value-for-money concerns on £400m investment in bankrupt satellite firm
23 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
Sharma overrode value-for-money concerns on £400m investment in bankrupt satellite firm
Business secretary gave ministerial direction after perm sec flagged “significant downside risks” of OneWeb deal
HMRC Making Tax Digital to continue rollout in 2022
23 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC Making Tax Digital to continue rollout in 2022
The programme will be extended to all businesses and then to individuals, government has announced
Second government hub in Croydon gets go-ahead
23 Jul Civil Service Reform
Second government hub in Croydon gets go-ahead
GPA contractors begin work on Croydon hub, with Home Office officials to start move by 2024
Cabinet Office takes charge of government use of data again
23 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
Cabinet Office takes charge of government use of data again
Move will ensure 'government departments and the decisions they make are properly joined up', Cabinet Office says
Treasury confirms £95k redundancy pay cap – one year on from consultation
22 Jul Civil Service Reform
Treasury confirms £95k redundancy pay cap – one year on from consultation
Treasury says government will take forward proposals to limit public sector payoffs
Home Office staff to undergo training on race in 'sweeping' post-Windrush reforms
22 Jul Civil Service Reform
Home Office staff to undergo training on race in 'sweeping' post-Windrush reforms
Home Office will also review hostile environment policy so “no one with a legal right to be here is wrongly penalised”