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
Palmerston miaows out: Foreign Office mouser to retire
07 Aug HR
Palmerston miaows out: Foreign Office mouser to retire
Home Office halts use of visa algorithm after legal challenge to ‘racist’ system
06 Aug Digital, Data & Technology
Home Office halts use of visa algorithm after legal challenge to ‘racist’ system
DWP Digital launches apprenticeship scheme
06 Aug Digital, Data & Technology
DWP Digital launches apprenticeship scheme
Chief nurse confirms she was dropped from No.10 briefing at height of Cummings row
20 Jul Coronavirus
Chief nurse confirms she was dropped from No.10 briefing at height of Cummings row
Ruth May says "you would have to ask other people" why she was dropped, but confirms "the rules were clear"
'Misogyny' behind claims DIT perm sec Antonia Romeo 'terrorised staff', union chief says
20 Jul HR
'Misogyny' behind claims DIT perm sec Antonia Romeo 'terrorised staff', union chief says
Media has targeted "female candidate with a profile", FDA's Dave Penman says
At a glance: All the latest lockdown changes announced by Boris Johnson — including back-to-work rules, council powers and the return of theatre
20 Jul Coronavirus
At a glance: All the latest lockdown changes announced by Boris Johnson — including back-to-work rules, council powers and the return of theatre
On Friday morning, the prime minister held a press conference to announce the next batch of changes to coronavirus lockdown rules under the government’s “road map”. Here’s what‘s been promised.
Government has ‘scant idea’ whether £117bn a-year-tax reliefs are just ‘freebies’, MPs warn
20 Jul Government Tax Profession
Government has ‘scant idea’ whether £117bn a-year-tax reliefs are just ‘freebies’, MPs warn
HMRC does not “systematically” measure whether tax reliefs change behaviour in the way they are intended, PAC says
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — July 20
20 Jul HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — July 20
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
BEIS names new permanent secretary
20 Jul HR
BEIS names new permanent secretary
Sarah Munby is government's youngest current perm sec
Matt Hancock orders urgent review into 'misleading' PHE coronavirus death statistics
17 Jul Coronavirus
Matt Hancock orders urgent review into 'misleading' PHE coronavirus death statistics
Review comes after reports that all deaths of people who have tested positive for coronavirus are marked as Covid deaths, even if cause of death may be unrelated
MPs slam Boris Johnson’s ‘impulsive’ decision to merge DfID with the Foreign Office
17 Jul Civil Service Reform
MPs slam Boris Johnson’s ‘impulsive’ decision to merge DfID with the Foreign Office
Government urged to retain the ICAI aid watchdog after overseas aid department's abolition
Boris Johnson hands councils power to order local lockdowns as he floats coronavirus ‘normality’ by Christmas
17 Jul Coronavirus
Boris Johnson hands councils power to order local lockdowns as he floats coronavirus ‘normality’ by Christmas
PM says that departments will discuss possible office returns with civil servants
Cabinet Office urged to review pay disparities of up to £56,000 for specialist staff
16 Jul Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office urged to review pay disparities of up to £56,000 for specialist staff
Pay flexibility so departments can recruit and retain staff prompts "workforce issues" and concern about "internal markets", NAO says
Data gaps holding back DIT's export strategy despite 'good start', NAO says
16 Jul Brexit
Data gaps holding back DIT's export strategy despite 'good start', NAO says
Unclear whether DIT has focused its efforts in regions and sectors where opportunities are greatest, watchdog finds
UK 5G network faces three-year delay and £2bn extra cost as government confirms Huawei expulsion
16 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
UK 5G network faces three-year delay and £2bn extra cost as government confirms Huawei expulsion
The Chinese tech vendor’s kit will be removed entirely by 2027, digital secretary Oliver Dowden has announced
Boris Johnson promises independent inquiry into Covid-19 response but says now is not the ‘right moment’
16 Jul Coronavirus
Boris Johnson promises independent inquiry into Covid-19 response but says now is not the ‘right moment’
‘Of course we will seek to learn the lessons of this pandemic in the future,’ says PM
NICS offers up to £190,000 for new chief to lead post-cash-for-ash reforms
16 Jul HR
NICS offers up to £190,000 for new chief to lead post-cash-for-ash reforms
Boosted salary offered for Northern Ireland Civil Service head who must help ensure the NICS “has the confidence and trust” of the public
MPs slam MoD over 'lamentable failure' to deliver armed forces equipment plan
15 Jul Defence
MPs slam MoD over 'lamentable failure' to deliver armed forces equipment plan
PAC says Ministry of Defence and Treasury must deliver a “concrete plan” on how to balance the budget
DWP trials new home-working scheme after 'ad-hoc' Covid arrangements
15 Jul Operational Delivery
DWP trials new home-working scheme after 'ad-hoc' Covid arrangements
Splitting time between home and the office will let staff socially distance, department says
Chisholm takes on churn and ‘costly, inefficient processes’ in the civil service
15 Jul Civil Service Reform
Chisholm takes on churn and ‘costly, inefficient processes’ in the civil service
Coronavirus crisis has added "renewed weight" to the imperative for reform, COO says
Cost of tackling coronavirus pandemic jumps to £192bn as UK heads for worst economic crash in 300 years
14 Jul Coronavirus
Cost of tackling coronavirus pandemic jumps to £192bn as UK heads for worst economic crash in 300 years
Economic output may not recover from the Covid-19 pandemic until 2025, according to forecast
PM makes face coverings mandatory in shops from July 24
14 Jul Coronavirus
PM makes face coverings mandatory in shops from July 24
Ministers will consider how to enforce the new measures in the coming days, Johnson says
Whitehall departments reported 500 personal data breaches to ICO in 2019-20
14 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
Whitehall departments reported 500 personal data breaches to ICO in 2019-20
Information request reveals that number of reported incidents increased slightly
'Mr Big of no-deal Brexit' appointed to coordinate Covid response leaves civil service again
13 Jul
'Mr Big of no-deal Brexit' appointed to coordinate Covid response leaves civil service again
Tom Shinner leaves secondment amid several other civil service departures
'Let’s get going': government launches major Brexit comms campaign as end of transition period nears
13 Jul Brexit
'Let’s get going': government launches major Brexit comms campaign as end of transition period nears
“There are actions that businesses and citizens must take now to ensure we hit the ground running”, says Michael Gove
No.10 sets up 'skunkworks' unit to advise PM on data
13 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
No.10 sets up 'skunkworks' unit to advise PM on data
£135,000 offered to data expert to lead '10ds' unit advising the PM
Southampton Integrated Commissioning Unit: Giving more vulnerable people independence by transforming care technology Sponsored
13 Jul Operational Delivery
Southampton Integrated Commissioning Unit: Giving more vulnerable people independence by transforming care technology
How can technology help vulnerable people live more independently? PA Consulting presents a case study of their work on the 'Connected Care' service.