Unions accuse Hancock of failing to ‘properly consult’ over creation of NIHP
16 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Unions accuse Hancock of failing to ‘properly consult’ over creation of NIHP
Civil service unions have serious concerns over the new health body
Pandemic pressures push civil service headcount higher, ONS reports
16 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Pandemic pressures push civil service headcount higher, ONS reports
Quarterly figures show staff numbers grew by 3,600 between March and June, with Department for Work and Pensions posting biggest rise
Government ‘has scaled back adverts for coronavirus tests in bid to reduce demand’
16 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Government ‘has scaled back adverts for coronavirus tests in bid to reduce demand’
Exclusive from PoliticsHome: Move comes as government insists it is working hard to increase capacity
NHS contact tracing app to launch this month amid increasing test concerns
15 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
NHS contact tracing app to launch this month amid increasing test concerns
App launch announced as NHS Providers accuses government of not “being as open” with testing capacity problems
Department denies chair shortage is hampering return-to-work drive
15 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Department denies chair shortage is hampering return-to-work drive
Report suggests Whitehall faces a “bum fight” for seats after chairs are sent to civil servants’ homes for lockdown
DWP rapped for coronavirus health and safety failings at Leeds office
11 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
DWP rapped for coronavirus health and safety failings at Leeds office
Inspector dubs return-to-work targets “ambitious and unrealistic” after finding social-distancing rules being breached
Cabinet Office urged to rethink ‘irresponsible’ back-to-work plans for civil servants
10 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Cabinet Office urged to rethink ‘irresponsible’ back-to-work plans for civil servants
Union calls on perm sec Alex Chisholm to shelve 80% target amid “growing concern” over second wave of Covid-19
HMRC planned only 30% office return before Cabinet Office set 80% target, perm sec reveals
09 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
HMRC planned only 30% office return before Cabinet Office set 80% target, perm sec reveals
Jim Harra says department currently has capacity for around 30% of the department’s staff to come into offices
Hancock: New social gathering restrictions ‘absolutely vital to protect life’
09 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock: New social gathering restrictions ‘absolutely vital to protect life’
‘We need everyone to see the new rules and read them,’ says Matt Hancock
HMRC targets furlough fraudsters after up to £3.5bn wrongly paid out via scheme
08 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
HMRC targets furlough fraudsters after up to £3.5bn wrongly paid out via scheme
Perm sec Jim Harra tells MPs the scheme's fraud and error rate "could be between 5% and 10%" of £35.4bn bill
Perm secs told to get 80% of civil servants into the office by the end of September
07 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Perm secs told to get 80% of civil servants into the office by the end of September
Union bosses slam target after Sir Mark Sedwill and Alex Chisholm tell department chiefs to "move quickly"
Hancock unveils mass-testing trial as workers urged to return to offices
03 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock unveils mass-testing trial as workers urged to return to offices
Health secretary pledges extra £500m to fund innovations including “rapid” tests that give results in 20 minutes
Ministers relied too much on SAGE for answers early in coronavirus outbreak, IfG finds
02 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Ministers relied too much on SAGE for answers early in coronavirus outbreak, IfG finds
Poor strategy, arbitrary targets and a hope for scientific certainty hampered initial Covid-19 response
McKinsey nets £1.1m in new contracts supporting government's Covid-19 response Exclusive
28 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
McKinsey nets £1.1m in new contracts supporting government's Covid-19 response
Cabinet Office to pay consultants £750,000 to beef up “Covid-19 task force” advising ministers and leading on implementation of coronavirus measures
Hancock: How well civil servants do their jobs is more important than whether they’re back in the office
27 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock: How well civil servants do their jobs is more important than whether they’re back in the office
Health secretary says he has “absolutely no idea" how many officials are back at DHSC's Whitehall HQ
Scrapping Public Health England won’t be a quick win, ministers warned
26 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Scrapping Public Health England won’t be a quick win, ministers warned
IfG says new National Institute for Health Protection faces same problems as predecessor with added disruption from reorganisation
DHSC draws up ‘moon shot’ plan to expand coronavirus testing to millions a day
24 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
DHSC draws up ‘moon shot’ plan to expand coronavirus testing to millions a day
Department has reportedly drafted in Deloitte to work on mass-testing regime aimed at asymptomatic carriers
Jenkin speaks out over scapegoating of civil servants
21 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Jenkin speaks out over scapegoating of civil servants
Chair of parliament’s powerful Liaison Committee says ministerial buck-passing risks hampering government’s effectiveness
MoJ hits ‘pause’ on coronavirus early-release scheme for prisoners
20 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
MoJ hits ‘pause’ on coronavirus early-release scheme for prisoners
Data shows at least 275 inmates have been freed from jail ahead of time under pandemic programme
Matt Hancock says Dido Harding has ‘huge’ experience amid row over major public health shake-up
19 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Matt Hancock says Dido Harding has ‘huge’ experience amid row over major public health shake-up
“That is a massive logistical operation," Hancock says, defending former TalkTalk boss's experience
Hancock confirms Public Health England axed with test and trace boss Dido Harding to lead replacement body
18 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock confirms Public Health England axed with test and trace boss Dido Harding to lead replacement body
Harding will be interim head of the National Institute for Health Protection, which will aim to tackle threats like biological weapons and pandemics
McKinsey banks £560,000 consulting on “vision, purpose and narrative” for new test and trace body Exclusive
18 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
McKinsey banks £560,000 consulting on “vision, purpose and narrative” for new test and trace body
DHSC drafted in consultancy to help plan permanent organisation to manage coronavirus programme
Public Health England to be scrapped after criticism of how it handled coronavirus crisis
17 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Public Health England to be scrapped after criticism of how it handled coronavirus crisis
New National Institute for Health Protection set to be in place by September, with test and trace chief Dido Harding tipped to lead it
PM to double fines for people who break face mask rules as he resumes easing of Covid-19 curbs
14 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
PM to double fines for people who break face mask rules as he resumes easing of Covid-19 curbs
New fines to be introduced for hosting gatherings of more than 30 people, as bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos reopen