Civil Service Reform

Closing the gender pay gap and improving promotion rates among under-represented groups among first Diversity and Inclusion Objectives for permanent secretaries

Jeremy Heywood says "absolutely vital" digital team moving to "next phase" with departure of chief Mike Bracken

Civil service will get smaller, says Cabinet secretary — but number of departments will “probably” stay the same

Minister for the Cabinet Office unveils plans for "digital fellowship" exchange on visit to Silicon Valley with government's CTO Liam Maxwell

Governments are increasingly seeking to transform their core systems. Andrew Arcuri of the Boston Consulting Group considers how they can move from achieving good results, to truly great ones

"This is the start of regaining control of the IT estate," says outgoing DVLA digital chief Iain Patterson, as agency moves services back in-house

Cabinet secretary Jeremy Heywood unveils new external diversity advisers

MoJ digital services manager Gavin Bell shares insight into government’s digital challenges as he steps down from role for private sector post

Management consultants looking at "operating costs across the department and partner organisations", says business secretary, but none "working directly" on its response to the Spending Review

Tim Kelsey to step down as NHS England’s national director for patients and information

Major business lobby group sets out stall ahead of government-wide Spending Review – with shared services, digitisation, and payment-by-results top of the agenda

Workforce shrinks by 8,000 posts – with GovCos and privatisations accounting for much of the change

When members of the public want to complain about government bodies, it falls to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to investigate. Sarah Aston speaks to the watchdog's newly-appointed non-executive directors Julia Tabreham and Ruth Sawtell about efforts to simplify the system, and change the perception that complaining doesn't make a difference

Lord Macdonald tells File on 4 that policy and legal advice functions will “suffer” amid squeeze on resources – but current director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders praises "dedicated" staff

Labour's new leader promotes Lucy Powell to shadow education

PM highlights achievements of Whitehall's digital team as he argues government has "moral imperative" to "streamline" public services

Culture secretary tells MPs budget cuts will lead to “difficult decisions” for DCMS but department not in “any danger” of disappearing 

Crown Commercial Service promises to boost role of smaller firms as provision of travel and conference booking for officials is split into four contracts

With the new cross-government learning contract currently out to tender, Civil Service Learning director Hilary Spencer explains how the system will work in future – and why it will pave the way for better public services 

Former head of the civil service tells chancellor at Lords committee hearing that he believes argument for running a surplus is a "smokescreen" for a smaller state

Opinion: The Spending Review calls for yet more cuts to departmental spending. But at what price?

New watchdog the Single Source Regulations Office seeks to overhaul MoD deals with single-source contractors

The forthcoming Spending Review must focus on outcomes and delivery, and also be the springboard for an honest debate about the very nature of our public sector, argues CIPFA's Rob Whiteman

Keela Shackell-Smith describes how she helped break the Environment Agency’s glass ceiling and increase the percentage of women in senior roles