Former top civil servants sign letter urging ministers to withdraw guidance on public speaking
14 Jul Communications

Former top civil servants sign letter urging ministers to withdraw guidance on public speaking

Guidance is "causing confusion and a chilling effect on public discussion" and should be withdrawn, experts say
by Beckie Smith
New business-case rules for major projects come into force
14 Jul Finance
New business-case rules for major projects come into force
DWP reports benefit fraud ‘heading in right direction’
14 Jul Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP reports benefit fraud ‘heading in right direction’
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 14 July
14 Jul HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 14 July
Mega projects: Delivery bodies given freedom to set pay for specialist roles
20 Jun Civil Service Reform
Mega projects: Delivery bodies given freedom to set pay for specialist roles
Government to implement "bespoke" approach to governance and funding for current and future schemes
Civil Service Pension Scheme admin staff vote to strike
20 Jun HR
Civil Service Pension Scheme admin staff vote to strike
Ballot of PCS members at spun-out operator ‘overwhelmingly’ backs industrial action
Departments ‘need to up their game’ on cost-recovery
20 Jun Finance
Departments ‘need to up their game’ on cost-recovery
National Audit Office deep dive finds £340m shortfall in 2023-24 alone
John Major calls for appointments watchdog to get boosted powers
19 Jun HR
John Major calls for appointments watchdog to get boosted powers
Former PM also says senior civil servants should get tougher vetting before being handed peerages
Keir Starmer asks cab sec to examine damning HS2 review's implications for civil service
19 Jun Civil Service Reform
Keir Starmer asks cab sec to examine damning HS2 review's implications for civil service
Wormald to assess infrastructure delivery report and consider whether an investigation is needed
NAO boss: Delivery is ‘ultimate test’ for departments’ efficiency plans
19 Jun Civil Service Reform
NAO boss: Delivery is ‘ultimate test’ for departments’ efficiency plans
Planned efficiency savings "have too often failed to materialised", Gareth Davies warns
Ministers set out plans for Northern Ireland Office of AI and Digital
18 Jun Digital, Data & Technology
Ministers set out plans for Northern Ireland Office of AI and Digital
New tech unit hoped to help Northern Ireland become "a world leader in responsible AI and play a transformational role in public sector delivery"
Homes England to acquire Ripon Barracks from MoD
18 Jun Security & Defence
Homes England to acquire Ripon Barracks from MoD
Plans to develop 1,300 homes unveiled as DIO says acquisition is “testament to the strong collaboration" of government bodies
Simon Case to join House of Lords
18 Jun
Simon Case to join House of Lords
Sir Tim Barrow and Dame Sharon White are also set to become crossbench peers
Grooming gangs review: Leadership and collaboration ‘lacking’ across government
17 Jun Justice & Home Affairs
Grooming gangs review: Leadership and collaboration ‘lacking’ across government
Louise Casey hands Home Office, DfE and DfT her recommendations for urgent action
NAO flags Civil Service Pension Scheme failings
17 Jun HR
NAO flags Civil Service Pension Scheme failings
Cabinet Office has spent £31.7m bankrolling admin for botched 2015 reforms, according to report
Cabinet Office gets £50m to boost civil service productivity
17 Jun Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office gets £50m to boost civil service productivity
Allocation from £3.25bn Transformation Fund will pay for learning-and-development overhaul
Sarah Healey gets damehood in King’s Birthday Honours
16 Jun HR
Sarah Healey gets damehood in King’s Birthday Honours
MHCLG perm sec and Joint Intelligence Committee chair receive damehoods as scores of current and former civil servants are honoured
MI6 appoints first ever female chief
16 Jun Security & Defence
MI6 appoints first ever female chief
Blaise Metreweli will move from current 'Q' role to become 'C', the head of the Secret Intelligence Service
'The front line of mission delivery': Sheffield, Leeds and Darlington campuses to lead community-based scheme
16 Jun Civil Service Reform
'The front line of mission delivery': Sheffield, Leeds and Darlington campuses to lead community-based scheme
Civil servants to work with local service providers to drive growth, opportunity and health missions 'from the ground up'
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – June 16
16 Jun HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – June 16
Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People
PACAC to probe how ministers announce new policies
13 Jun Communications
PACAC to probe how ministers announce new policies
Lindsay Hoyle sought inquiry over major announcements being briefed to the media before the House
SR25: 'Canary Wharf costs half as much as Westminster' – departments outline estate plans
13 Jun HR
SR25: 'Canary Wharf costs half as much as Westminster' – departments outline estate plans
From the Cabinet Office moving jobs to east London to a HMRC promise that seems to have already been delivered, here are the highlights from departments' property efficiency plans
SR25: IFS questions departments’ admin efficiency figures
13 Jun Civil Service Reform
SR25: IFS questions departments’ admin efficiency figures
Near-uniform plans for 15% savings isn’t “serious” work from HM Treasury, think-tank director suggests
SR25: Defra eyes 5% headcount cuts as departments set out workforce reduction plans
13 Jun HR
SR25: Defra eyes 5% headcount cuts as departments set out workforce reduction plans
DSIT and DBT target smaller senior civil service workforce, while Cabinet Office and DfT aim for less managers per staff member
SR25: MoJ gets funding injection for new prison places and probation services
12 Jun Justice & Home Affairs
SR25: MoJ gets funding injection for new prison places and probation services
£7bn will be used to create 14,000 prison places by 2031, while probation services will get up to £700m per year by 2028‑29 to implement sentencing review recommendations
SR25: HMRC gets £1.7bn for big increase in compliance and debt management staff
12 Jun Economics
SR25: HMRC gets £1.7bn for big increase in compliance and debt management staff
Department also gets £500m "to make HMRC a truly digital-first organisation"
Outsourced staff accept 'groundbreaking' pay and benefits offer
12 Jun Commercial
Outsourced staff accept 'groundbreaking' pay and benefits offer
PCS lauds "first of its kind" pay package for outsourced facilities management contracts in the civil service
Civil service strategic workforce plan delay 'disappointing' – union chief
11 Jun Civil Service Reform
Civil service strategic workforce plan delay 'disappointing' – union chief
Civil servants left "with more questions than answers" as to how Spending Review cuts are to be implemented, FDA head says