Culture

FCO historian Richard Smith explains his department’s response to the Great War

Journalist and historian Peter Hennessy meets former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine to discuss his life in politics – and his views of the civil service.

Sue Owen explains why she loves the ’pool – and why the Everton Ground holds a special meaning for her.

CSW reviews Colesseo

In the first of a series of articles examining digital services, Tim Gibson explains online voter registration – a new IT system lying at the very heart of our democracy.

The Committee on Standards in Public Life thinks it knows how to halt the seemingly endless scandals about outsourcing. Report by Colin Marrs. Illustration by John Levers

When you don’t have the time to go on long holidays, planning the perfect weekend get-away becomes of crucial importance: the ideal spot should be far away, but easy to reach; warm, but not too hot; big enough to be entertaining, but not overwhelmingly; and affordable, without being dangerously deprived.

CSW reviews Olivelli

CSW reviews Bibimbap

The Government Digital Service (GDS) and the business department (BIS) will establish a cross-government digital capability and skills programme to help citizens use digital services.

When my friend invited me to the Parcel Yard at King’s Cross Station, my hopes for a pleasant venue weren’t high. Having spent a fair bit of time awaiting trains, waiting for arrivals or seeking solace after missing a train, I have seen rather a lot of train stations’ facilities. My experience of station pubs has been one of peculiar smells, questionable characters and grumpy bar staff.

After railways, hotels are the best setting for intrigue, romance and murder – locations where people take only the baggage they need, leaving everything else behind and experimenting in ways they’d never dare in their everyday lives.

A burrito place that doesn’t have any beans: could anything be more frustrating‽ In fact, the only upside of eating at Adobo in Victoria is that I can utilise the trusty interrobang (‽) in CSW, winning a bet – and, consequently, the ability to eat lunch somewhere nicer next time around.

www.pierrekoffmann.co.uk/at-the-berkeley

The Berkeley, Wilton Pl, London SW1X 7RL

020 7107 8844

In cinemas now

Reaching 60 is undoubtedly a milestone occasion befitting of celebration. And though it wasn’t my milestone, I was more than happy to take the opportunity to check out La Trompette – a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chiswick. Having never sampled Michelin-starred offerings before, I was intrigued to see if it would live up to the hype.

A lack of resources is making it more difficult for the Charity Commission to do its job, the organisation’s chief executive has said.

Sue Owen might be enjoying more evenings out as the new permanent secretary at DCMS, but her days are spent demonstrating and improving the value of culture, media and sport to the UK. Suzannah Brecknell meets her

When 1984 arrived, it didn’t neatly fit George Orwell’s vision of a cowed population kept in line by the feared Thought Police. But as Joshua Chambers discovers in that year’s Cabinet Papers, it’s not hard to find parallels.

Government’s use of payment by results contracts will inhibit its ability to buy services from charities and social enterprises, the Institute for Government has warned.

V&A Museum

Until 19 January

117-119 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3RN

020 7373 3990

9 Conduit Street, London, 020 7659 4500

The PM used to talk a lot about the Big Society, but it was rarely clear exactly what he meant. Joshua Chambers meets Helen Stephenson, who’s been charged with turning his vague aspirations into tangible work programmes