Anti-fraud checks on Covid loans 'inadequate', watchdog finds
03 Dec 2021 Coronavirus
Anti-fraud checks on Covid loans 'inadequate', watchdog finds
Most measures were introduced "too late" to stop fraud, with focus on prevention
BEIS slammed by MPs for ‘pointlessly rushed’ green homes scheme
01 Dec 2021 Coronavirus
BEIS slammed by MPs for ‘pointlessly rushed’ green homes scheme
Public Accounts Committee chair says scheme’s flaws "should have been blindingly obvious to the department"
Bingham fires broadside at civil service ‘foot dragging’
23 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Bingham fires broadside at civil service ‘foot dragging’
Former Vaccine Taskforce boss bemoans lack of science skills in government and says obstacles to decision-making must be overcome
HMRC struggles to recover billions in overpaid Covid-19 support and tax debts
22 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
HMRC struggles to recover billions in overpaid Covid-19 support and tax debts
Taskforce likely to recover minority of support paid in error and fraud as NAO says department needs to increase its debt recovery capacity
Government was not prepared enough for Covid pandemic, NAO finds
19 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Government was not prepared enough for Covid pandemic, NAO finds
Lessons from previous simulation exercises "not fully implemented", watchdog says
Drop social distancing to get more civil servants back to offices, departments told
18 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Drop social distancing to get more civil servants back to offices, departments told
Guidance update "should support you to remove some or all of the measures associated with social distancing", Chisholm says
Billions lost to fraudsters amid pandemic 'simply unacceptable', DWP told
17 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Billions lost to fraudsters amid pandemic 'simply unacceptable', DWP told
MPs say department’s £8.3bn overpayment of benefits is ‘simply unacceptable’
DHSC sets up NHS Delivery Unit to 'tackle waiting lists and recover services'
15 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
DHSC sets up NHS Delivery Unit to 'tackle waiting lists and recover services'
Sir Michael Barber will advise health secretary on new unit after calling for ‘war room’ to support underperforming NHS trusts
Risk management profession could take 18 months to set up, ministers say
11 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Risk management profession could take 18 months to set up, ministers say
Boardman Review recommendation could take more than a year to progress, MPs are told
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
05 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
But department’s annual report estimates fraud in Covid support schemes topped £6bn in 2020-21
Top scientist Jeremy Farrar quits SAGE, warning Covid is 'far from over'
03 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Top scientist Jeremy Farrar quits SAGE, warning Covid is 'far from over'
Wellcome Trust director says experts have provided 'vital advice' under 'huge pressure'
'Unfair' to criticise sky-high spending on Covid schemes, Sunak says
02 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
'Unfair' to criticise sky-high spending on Covid schemes, Sunak says
Chancellor defends £37bn spent on test and trace scheme and cost of furlough fraud