Civil Service Reform

Lord Falconer is the man entrusted by Ed Miliband with preparing Labour for government. Here he speaks to Matt Foster about the party’s plans for Whitehall, and why he thinks the coalition has got its relationship with the civil service "dramatically wrong". Photos by Louise Haywood-Schiefer

Thirty three companies take the lion’s share of central government procurement spending, between them receiving roughly £10bn of Whitehall money each year. But who are they? Do they truly understand the public sector? And do civil servants trust them? Rebecca Sims-Robinson crunches the numbers.

Another inconclusive election will mean uncertainty for the country – and complex challenges for Whitehall, says the Institute for Government's Peter Riddell

Exclusive: Labour peer in charge of preparing party for government says he wants to avoid "civil service wars" associated with creating, scrapping and merging departments, but eyes greater role for Number 10

Across the world, central and local governments are doing more to share common IT systems. Joshua Chambers looks at global examples of “government as a platform”

‘Fragmentation’ and coalition wariness will make post-election talks more ‘complicated’, Institute for Government director Peter Riddell tells UCL event

Former Scope and Mencap IT director Conall Bullock takes on newly-created Cabinet Office role, reporting directly to permanent secretary Richard Heaton

Cutting-edge communications and training campaigns are using the theories and technologies behind the best video games, says Joshua Chambers

If the next government wants to shake up Whitehall, it must do it in the right way, for the right reasons, says the Institute for Government's Peter Riddell

New report by the Institute for Government think tank warns that 'huge variation in quality, usability and accessibility' of data is making it harder to measure departmental performance against Business Plans

There’s a long way to go, but civil servants are finally starting to get the IT they need, says the government’s chief technology officer Liam Maxwell

Civil Service Policy Profession to trial policy degree for future civil service leaders in a bid to professionalise government policy-making

Whitehall officials recruited to teach friends and family basic digital skills in Cabinet Office drive to get more people online

 The next government must build on existing Whitehall reforms if it wants to avoid mid-term failures, says think tank the Institute for Government

Cabinet Office says contracts for private firms running public services will include 'presumption in favour of disclosing information' to the public

GDS's Mike Bracken appointed to new chief data officer role aiming to improve Whitehall's use of data

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude says £11bn of £20bn annual Whitehall efficiency drive identified, but Labour warns of little room for more 'back office efficiencies' 

Institute for Government urges greater focus on collaboration and long-term planning

The civil service’s first chief executive has an ambitious agenda to define the next era of Whitehall reform – whatever those “damn politicians” might be planning. Jess Bowie meets him

For years, governments have run pilots exploring ways to improve local autonomy and coordination between services at the sharp end. Winnie Agbonlahor reports on the latest results – and the prospects for radical change