Civil service return-to-work target was ‘never based in reality’, says union chief
23 Sep Coronavirus
Civil service return-to-work target was ‘never based in reality’, says union chief
FDA general secretary dubs U-turn a ‘shambles’ while PCS seeks assurances working from home will be the norm until next year
Gove confirms return-to-work drive for civil service has been halted
22 Sep Coronavirus
Gove confirms return-to-work drive for civil service has been halted
Cabinet Office minister says plan to see 80% of staff back at their workplaces by end of month has been ditched as second spike of coronavirus approaches
‘PM must choose’: Johnson faces further calls to clarify Dido Harding’s role
22 Sep Coronavirus
‘PM must choose’: Johnson faces further calls to clarify Dido Harding’s role
Dual work as public-health head and Conservative peer ‘blurs the fundamental distinction that officials cannot act in a party political way’, Downing Street is warned
Rail franchising system scrapped
21 Sep Coronavirus
Rail franchising system scrapped
New ‘recovery’ contracts given to rail firms ahead of new system coming into force
NAO to probe transparency of government procurement during pandemic
21 Sep Coronavirus
NAO to probe transparency of government procurement during pandemic
Auditor general says spending watchdog will produce ‘detailed piece of work’
Boris Johnson says civil service must ‘respond faster and better’ to needs of public
17 Sep Coronavirus
Boris Johnson says civil service must ‘respond faster and better’ to needs of public
Prime minister tells watchdog MPs he is not “shy of reform” but insists changes won’t be made in a “spirit of disapproval”
Unions accuse Hancock of failing to ‘properly consult’ over creation of NIHP
16 Sep 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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