Departments take cautious approach on return to office
27 Sep 2021 Coronavirus
Departments take cautious approach on return to office
Ministries trial hybrid-working plans but fears remain about staff being pressured back to desks
DfE rebuffs call for systematic review of Covid response
15 Sep 2021 Coronavirus
DfE rebuffs call for systematic review of Covid response
Department is focusing on ongoing improvements and government-wide public inquiry, perm sec Susan Acland-Hood says
Vaccines minister pressured to accelerate officials’ return to offices
07 Sep 2021 Coronavirus
Vaccines minister pressured to accelerate officials’ return to offices
Nadim Zahawi says departments must 'lead by example' on return to office, despite support for hybrid working
Police thwart anti-vax protesters’ bid to storm MHRA headquarters
06 Sep 2021 Coronavirus
Police thwart anti-vax protesters’ bid to storm MHRA headquarters
Union chief condemns “utterly disgraceful” behaviour of anti-vaccine campaigners outside Department of Health and Social Care executive agency
Economic bounce-back ‘won’t shield departments in Spending Review’
31 Aug 2021 Coronavirus
Economic bounce-back ‘won’t shield departments in Spending Review’
Institute for Government says Sunak will need to find additional funding to protect public services
Scottish Government to hold own Covid-19 inquiry
26 Aug 2021 Coronavirus
Scottish Government to hold own Covid-19 inquiry
With UK-wide public inquiry delayed until 2022, Sturgeon says Scotland's probe should start "as soon as possible"
DHSC signs contract to buy 35 million more doses of Pfizer vaccine
24 Aug 2021 Coronavirus
DHSC signs contract to buy 35 million more doses of Pfizer vaccine
Booster programme will help "future-proof the country from the threat of Covid-19"
DHSC to pay up to £125k for six-month post after test and trace comms chief moves to royal household
20 Aug 2021 Coronavirus
DHSC to pay up to £125k for six-month post after test and trace comms chief moves to royal household
Contract to fill “prominent and politically sensitive role” awarded without competitive tender
Scottish Government sticks with homeworking advice as restrictions lift
09 Aug 2021 Coronavirus
Scottish Government sticks with homeworking advice as restrictions lift
Employers are also encouraged to move towards a hybrid model in the longer term
No.10 and DfE ‘refused to make Covid contingency plans for schools’
05 Aug 2021 Coronavirus
No.10 and DfE ‘refused to make Covid contingency plans for schools’
Fear of leaks led to “unforgivable” pandemic decisions, think tank says
A quarter of DfE officials return to office as Sunak urges young people to ditch home working
03 Aug 2021 Coronavirus
A quarter of DfE officials return to office as Sunak urges young people to ditch home working
"Quite frankly, they are all excited to come back," education minister says
Government analyses social ‘narratives and influencers’ to support Covid response
30 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
Government analyses social ‘narratives and influencers’ to support Covid response
Contract worth £1.4m signed at the start of the year
DHSC scales up ‘cough in a box’ technology to detect Covid-19
27 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
DHSC scales up ‘cough in a box’ technology to detect Covid-19
Scheme uses algorithms to identify coronavirus by processing recordings of an individual’s cough
'Financial risk for years to come' as Covid costs hit £372bn, MPs warn
26 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
'Financial risk for years to come' as Covid costs hit £372bn, MPs warn
Some departments cannot provide "robust assessment of their Covid-related activity"
Perm sec acknowledges concerns over tweaked Covid quarantine rules
20 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
Perm sec acknowledges concerns over tweaked Covid quarantine rules
DfT chief Bernadette Kelly tells MPs special category created for France “does add some complications”
DWP ‘pledges no mass return to the office’
15 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
DWP ‘pledges no mass return to the office’
“Unlocking is an opportunity for more colleagues to gradually return,” says department
Government’s controversial aid cut to go ahead after MPs approve reduction
15 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
Government’s controversial aid cut to go ahead after MPs approve reduction
Prime minister’s pledge to restore the target when the economy allows wins over rebels
BEIS took 'unusual' interest in Greensill's application for Covid lending scheme
07 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
BEIS took 'unusual' interest in Greensill's application for Covid lending scheme
Officials emailed British Business Bank eight times to check in on accreditation, NAO finds
Second man charged with assaulting chief medical officer
07 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
Second man charged with assaulting chief medical officer
Move follows social media footage of Chris Whitty being accosted in central London park
Lockdown lifting ‘now or never’ says Johnson as he confirms plan for 19 July reopening
06 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
Lockdown lifting ‘now or never’ says Johnson as he confirms plan for 19 July reopening
Planned ending of restrictions set to go ahead despite concerns over Delta variant
Cabinet Office ‘looking for ways to silence Dominic Cummings’
01 Jul 2021 Coronavirus
Cabinet Office ‘looking for ways to silence Dominic Cummings’
But officials fear turning PM’s former chief adviser into a “martyr”, according to reports
Fraud and error in Covid support schemes 'will cost taxpayer tens of billions'
30 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
Fraud and error in Covid support schemes 'will cost taxpayer tens of billions'
Departments' efforts to detect fraud 'hindered by a lack of real-time data sharing and weak transparency arrangements', MPs say
ICO ‘looking carefully’ at ministers’ alleged use of Gmail for government business
30 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
ICO ‘looking carefully’ at ministers’ alleged use of Gmail for government business
Reports claim that three DHSC ministers have used private accounts
NHS Test and Trace still ‘heavily reliant’ on consultants, NAO says
25 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
NHS Test and Trace still ‘heavily reliant’ on consultants, NAO says
Watchdog says headcount of external workers increased between December and April despite pledge to reduce numbers “markedly”