PM announces new lockdown for England as Covid cases soar
05 Jan 2021 Coronavirus
PM announces new lockdown for England as Covid cases soar
Announcement comes after chief medical officers raise pandemic alert level to 5
Hancock refuses to rule out new coronavirus lockdown
04 Jan 2021 Coronavirus
Hancock refuses to rule out new coronavirus lockdown
The health secretary said the existing tier system "isn't strong enough"
2021 will be tougher than 2020 for many, think tank warns
04 Jan 2021 Coronavirus
2021 will be tougher than 2020 for many, think tank warns
Resolution Foundation says Treasury must prepare for economy to be 6% smaller than OBR prediction by Easter
PM chairs Cobra meeting as Europe isolates UK over new Covid strain
21 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
PM chairs Cobra meeting as Europe isolates UK over new Covid strain
Former chief scientific adviser says government needs to accelerate plans for a new nationwide lockdown
Support staff at BEIS vote to strike over Covid-19 safety concerns
14 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
Support staff at BEIS vote to strike over Covid-19 safety concerns
Union says department should limit staff in Whitehall HQ to prevent contractors “unnecessarily endangering their health”
Watchdog questions Dido Harding’s accountability on test and trace
11 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
Watchdog questions Dido Harding’s accountability on test and trace
NAO says reliance on outsourced staff to handle tracing calls is unique, after using civil servants deemed “unfeasible”
‘We don’t want to make people redundant,’ says HMRC boss Harra
09 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
‘We don’t want to make people redundant,’ says HMRC boss Harra
Perm sec says pandemic response has shown staff can keep working for department even if their offices close under hubs programme
Regional inequality worsening in the north despite 'levelling-up' agenda
07 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
Regional inequality worsening in the north despite 'levelling-up' agenda
IPPR North says coronavirus has worsened inequality and sets tests for progress
PM urged to launch rapid Covid-19 public inquiry to 'minimise loss of life'
04 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
PM urged to launch rapid Covid-19 public inquiry to 'minimise loss of life'
Charities and unions back call for rapid review into government's handling of pandemic
DfE ‘doesn’t know’ if free school meals voucher company made profit
03 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
DfE ‘doesn’t know’ if free school meals voucher company made profit
NAO says contractor charged department face value for supermarket vouchers but obtained them at discount
Covid vaccine approved: no corners were cut, says MHRA chief
02 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
Covid vaccine approved: no corners were cut, says MHRA chief
The NHS could begin Covid vaccinations from next week following approval
FDA backs legal challenge to Dido Harding appointment
02 Dec 2020 Coronavirus
FDA backs legal challenge to Dido Harding appointment
FDA general secretary backs complaint on top Covid roles as open and fair competition “protects the civil service from cronyism and corruption”
DHSC gears up to spend £95m on shipping in PPE and medical supplies next year Exclusive
30 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
DHSC gears up to spend £95m on shipping in PPE and medical supplies next year
Freight and logistics deals will be used to import diagnostic kits and equipment used to fight Covid-19
Army support offered to dozens of areas set to enter pandemic tier 3
26 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Army support offered to dozens of areas set to enter pandemic tier 3
DHSC details aid measures as Hancock announces swathes of the nation will be in “very high alert” category from next week
DWP jobs boost confirmed in Spending Review
25 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
DWP jobs boost confirmed in Spending Review
Rishi Sunak provides funds to double number of work coaches in £1.4bn coronavirus support uplift
UK governments announce 'Christmas bubbles' plan to let three households meet
25 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
UK governments announce 'Christmas bubbles' plan to let three households meet
Michael Gove says plan will allow people to meet up ‘in a limited and cautious way across the UK should they wish’
Government sets out tougher coronavirus tiers for England ahead of lifting lockdown
24 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Government sets out tougher coronavirus tiers for England ahead of lifting lockdown
Prime minister Boris Johnson warns that Christmas won't be normal this year but urges a ‘push to spring’
Civil service braces for new pay woe in Spending Review
24 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Civil service braces for new pay woe in Spending Review
Downing Street briefs that prime minister opposes planned £3k rise for MPs in light of mooted public-sector freeze
Hancock defends £44,000 takeaway bill for staff working '18-hour days'
24 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock defends £44,000 takeaway bill for staff working '18-hour days'
"When people are working 18 hours a day, of course I’m going to feed them," health secretary says
Cabinet Office plans for civil service Covid tests spark ‘serious concerns’
23 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Cabinet Office plans for civil service Covid tests spark ‘serious concerns’
Union seeks assurances departmental officials will not be compelled to test each other
Civil servants face renewed pay freeze as Treasury signals restraint
20 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Civil servants face renewed pay freeze as Treasury signals restraint
"Clap for carers" rhetoric would ring hollow if followed by new restrictions, says unions
Four-year MoD settlement ‘not decided in a vacuum’, insists Treasury perm sec
20 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
Four-year MoD settlement ‘not decided in a vacuum’, insists Treasury perm sec
Tom Scholar tells MPs preparation work for delayed integrated review of defence, security and foreign affairs fed into multi-year funding boost
PPE suppliers referred by ministers and civil servants marked 'high priority' in pandemic
18 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
PPE suppliers referred by ministers and civil servants marked 'high priority' in pandemic
Businesses in high-priority lane 14 times more likely to win contracts, NAO finds
BEIS urged to limit staff working in London HQ over Covid safety concerns
18 Nov 2020 Coronavirus
BEIS urged to limit staff working in London HQ over Covid safety concerns
Department insists it is working with unions to ensure offices meet Covid secure guidelines