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Baron Lansley reflects on life in government versus life as a civil servant, over a pot of Earl Grey with Suzannah Brecknell

As the Civil Service Commission highlights “negligible” progress on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic diversity in its annual report – and cautions that appointment panels often face “insufficient choice” of good candidates – first civil service commissioner Ian Watmore talks to CSW about his priorities for the coming parliament

Rupert McNeil said professions will play a key role in ensuring the civil service can offer pay packages that attract and retain talented people

As the new apprenticeships system gets into full swing, Suzannah Brecknell meets Peter Lauener, the man charged with setting up the institute which will put employers front and centre

After starting her career in law Carol Tullo has now worked in the civil service for 20 years. She talks to Suzannah Brecknell about two decades worth of change, Whitehall milestones and the digital future

FDA union calls for more investment in the civil service, as survey shows that 91% of senior managers regularly work more than their contracted hours

Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service replaces National Offenders Management Service as Ministry of Justice takes over the commissioning and monitoring of prison and probation services

PACAC chair tells CSW it is a promising moment for civil service reform, but ministers must play their part too

PACAC slams the “absence of safeguards” to ensure prime ministers do not bypass proper cabinet procedures,  and urges government to publish the lessons it has learned from Chilcot Inquiry

Simon Case and Katrina Williams join the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union, as government prepares to issue Article 50 notification

Institute for Government report highlights “persistent weaknesses” that cause costly policy churn, prescribing a stronger role for MPs and the centre of government to stop unnecessary changes and secure institutional memory

With staff numbers and responsibilities growing, DCMS is undergoing something of a renaissance. Permanent secretary Sue Owen tells Suzannah Brecknell about the importance of leadership, the value of culture, and the power of music

Union calls for independent review of pay as it warns that maintaining a 1% cap on pay rises is “unsustainable”

Continuing pay cap would mean up to 20% drop in average civil service earnings by 2020, union analysis reveals

 Statements and press releases gave misleading picture of reduction in homelessness, the UK Statistics Authority finds, because press and policy teams failed to consult with statisticians before publication

Public Accounts Committee says department still does not fully understand impact of benefit sanctions, and warns their use could have knock-on effects for other areas of government

QC who spoke at 7/7 inquest will take up post as terror laws watchdog in March

Government rejects think tank's calculations which suggest the UK missed target to spend 2% of GDP on defence thanks to unexpectedly strong economic growth

Peter Riddell calls for stronger diversity monitoring rules, as government plans a “stock take” of gender balance across public boards

Just before he stepped down as permanent secretary of the Welsh Government, Sir Derek Jones told CSW's Suzannah Brecknell why, despite the challenges ahead, civil servants should be confident – and why creativity is as important as penning an elegant memo

Newly-released interviews by the Institute for Government offer a fascinating insight into politicians’ views of the Whitehall machine. They ain’t all that flattering, finds Suzannah Brecknell...

Some staff are still uncertain about joining the GCO, Institute for Government researchers find, though the reforms to improve commercial capability are already making an impact

The UK’s former ambassador to the EU warns MPs of a “diminution of Whitehall attention” on ongoing EU policy matters as the pressures of planning for Brexit rise

Single Source Regulations Office seeks greater oversight of contracts for non-competitive military goods

The Institute for Government warns that Brexit could lead to departments slipping on transparency goals — which have already seen a steep decline since David Cameron’s 2010 open government claims

Civil service leaders have long tried to cut sickness absence rates among their staff. But, asks Suzannah Brecknell, are they looking at the full picture?

The chief executive of the Crown Commercial Service has told the Public Accounts Committee that he would rather “take time to build a model that endures” than rush to increase the volume of services bought through and by his centralised procurement team

Scheme delivers strong value for money and has exceeded targets, Independent Commission for Aid Impact says, but officials could do more to help national governments improve the way cash is delivered

NAO chief says it is time for the department to “step back and consider” its estates strategy as HMRC acknowledges its plans to close most offices will take longer, cost more, and save less than expected

Former chancellor says British system is weakened by hierarchical divide between politician and officials 

Public Accounts Committee slams "unacceptable" delay in publishing Troubled Families evaluation, and tells communities department it must find better ways to monitor long term impact of this initiative

Latest report from the Institute for Government finds that departments need clarity about government’s negotiating plans if they are to make the most of Brexit, and urges officials to improve planning for life outside of the European Union

National Audit Office report on Crown Commercial Service blames failure to achieve forecast procurement savings on “overambitious targets, poor planning, inadequate data and lack of buy in”

 

Lack of awareness about devolution issues in Whitehall is “unacceptable”, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee says, as Brexit brings fresh pressure for UK government to improve the way it works with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Ipsos Mori research shows a drop in trust of  politicians, ministers, business leaders, charity leaders, and the ordinary man in the street

National Audit Office report suggests DWP's "use of sanctions is linked as much to management priorities and local staff discretion as it is to claimants’ behaviour"