Security & Defence

Lovegrove to leave DECC after three years at the top, taking over from Jon Thompson at the MoD "shortly"

"I cannot believe a civil servant would tear up a government paper," says former deputy prime minister, as document uncovered by The Times suggests key information on 1985-6 Westland affair was destroyed

The MoD is set to bring its civilian HR, finance, information and security vetting corporate services back in house from April

With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Melanie Dawes, permanent secretary of the Department for Communities and Local Government, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Ruth Owen, head of the government's Operational Delivery Profession​, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Mark Sedwill, permanent secretary of the Home Office, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Jon Thompson, Ministry of Defence permanent secretary, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

Latest workforce data from the Office for National Statistics shows civil service shrank by 1.4% in Q3

National Audit Office says project likely to be finished eight years later than originally thought

Chief executive of the Defence Equipment and Support agency says fresh Trident cost estimates are proof of an end to a culture in which the MoD has been "unrealistic about the numbers"

Defence committee takes evidence on the Strategic Defence and Security Review – with decision to axe 30% of MoD's civilian staff coming under fire from academics

Strategic Defence and Security Review sets out aim of reducing MoD civilian staff numbers to 41,000 – with unions warning that the scale of cuts could have frontline ramifications

Civilian MoD workforce reportedly in line for staffing reductions as David Cameron prepares to unveil Strategic Defence and Security Review

David Cameron to outline cross government defence and security review in the Commons later – as George Osborne confirms all departments have settled with the Treasury ahead of Wednesday's Spending Review

National Cyber Centre to open in Cheltenham, George Osborne announces, amid flurry of security spending announcements in the wake of the Paris terror attacks

Cyber security apprentices from government to join apprentices from BT at networking and training event later this month

Cross-government SDSR to be unveiled two days before the Spending Review

When Army 2020 was announced in 2012, it represented one of the biggest structural reforms to the British Army in decades. A key plank of the scheme – itself part of the larger Future Force 2020 programme – has been to cut the number of regulars from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2018, and to make up the shortfall with reservists. The programme’s recruitment problems have been well publicised in the past, but, in 2015, is it any closer to ‘mission accomplished’? Colin Marrs reports

Chatham House urges protection of FCO – while officials reportedly say they are "confident" of a good outcome at the Spending Review

Senior Tory backbencher joins former Treasury solicitor Sir Paul Jenkins in questioning removal of reference to international law

Beyond the comfort zone: Andrew Rogoyski, head of cyber security services at global IT supplier CGI, tells Civil Service World about an eye-opening secondment working on cyber security in the Cabinet Office

Freedom of Information has been a "very big positive" in spite of "chilling effects", says Cabinet secretary

Defence secretary tells RUSI think tank that the latest cross-government defence strategy will be "positive, assertive and quite properly strategic"

MI5 director general Andrew Parker gives first live interview to "increase understanding" of intelligence agency's work – and suggests social media firms have an "ethical responsibility" to report terror concerns