Covid has 'complicated' levelling-up agenda, IFS study finds
05 Feb 2021 Economy
Covid has 'complicated' levelling-up agenda, IFS study finds
Pandemic has created new unemployment hotspots and extra pressures for local-authority services
Covid support: ministers could easily help 1.5m ‘excluded’ self-employed people, IFS says
27 Jan 2021 Economy
Covid support: ministers could easily help 1.5m ‘excluded’ self-employed people, IFS says
Think tank says ending “clear injustices” in coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme would cost a fraction of the £21bn spent so far
Ministers refuse to share MHCLG advice on controversial Towns Fund cash
19 Jan 2021 Economy
Ministers refuse to share MHCLG advice on controversial Towns Fund cash
Public Accounts Committee demanded sight of accounting officer approval confirming ministers' picks for £3.6bn scheme met Managing Public Money requirements
HMRC pledges to publish more data on unpaid tax
15 Jan 2021 Economy
HMRC pledges to publish more data on unpaid tax
But government rejects MPs’ call for sector breakdowns and a headline uncertainty figure
Sunak warns ‘badly damaged’ public finances ‘will need repair’
12 Jan 2021 Economy
Sunak warns ‘badly damaged’ public finances ‘will need repair’
Chancellor suggests he will not use March Budget to spend nation out of economic doldrums
Treasury ‘risks wasting money’ by allowing Covid schemes to cushion Brexit
06 Jan 2021 Economy
Treasury ‘risks wasting money’ by allowing Covid schemes to cushion Brexit
IfG urges Rishi Sunak to avoid propping up companies that will not survive EU exit with pandemic aid
2021 will be tougher than 2020 for many, think tank warns
04 Jan 2021 Economy
2021 will be tougher than 2020 for many, think tank warns
Resolution Foundation says Treasury must prepare for economy to be 6% smaller than OBR prediction by Easter
Regional inequality worsening in the north despite 'levelling-up' agenda
07 Dec 2020 Economy
Regional inequality worsening in the north despite 'levelling-up' agenda
IPPR North says coronavirus has worsened inequality and sets tests for progress
Brexit: barriers to trade deal remain as talks enter final stages
07 Dec 2020 Economy
Brexit: barriers to trade deal remain as talks enter final stages
Negotiations have resumed ahead of call between prime minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later
Treasury drafts in former British Land chief to set up infrastructure bank
07 Dec 2020 Economy
Treasury drafts in former British Land chief to set up infrastructure bank
Chris Grigg appointed as ‘interim senior adviser’ to help establish new investment body, which will be based in the north of England
DWP jobs boost confirmed in Spending Review
25 Nov 2020 Economy
DWP jobs boost confirmed in Spending Review
Rishi Sunak provides funds to double number of work coaches in £1.4bn coronavirus support uplift
Civil service braces for new pay woe in Spending Review
24 Nov 2020 Economy
Civil service braces for new pay woe in Spending Review
Downing Street briefs that prime minister opposes planned £3k rise for MPs in light of mooted public-sector freeze
Four-year MoD settlement ‘not decided in a vacuum’, insists Treasury perm sec
20 Nov 2020 Economy
Four-year MoD settlement ‘not decided in a vacuum’, insists Treasury perm sec
Tom Scholar tells MPs preparation work for delayed integrated review of defence, security and foreign affairs fed into multi-year funding boost
MHCLG ‘jeopardised civil service impartiality’ with £3.6bn Towns Fund, say MPs
11 Nov 2020 Economy
MHCLG ‘jeopardised civil service impartiality’ with £3.6bn Towns Fund, say MPs
MPs say lack of transparency raises concerns choice of places invited to bid was “politically motivated”
MPs call on Sunak to reveal economic impact assessment of Covid-19 measures
03 Nov 2020 Economy
MPs call on Sunak to reveal economic impact assessment of Covid-19 measures
Treasury Select Committee seeks data briefed to SAGE as Labour demands end to last-minute policy scrambles
England’s second lockdown could go beyond 2 December, says Michael Gove
02 Nov 2020 Economy
England’s second lockdown could go beyond 2 December, says Michael Gove
Explaining move into a second national lockdown, the Cabinet Office minister says ‘the situation has been worse than any of us expected’
DWP hits recruitment target for 4,500 extra work coaches
02 Nov 2020 Economy
DWP hits recruitment target for 4,500 extra work coaches
Milestone will turn around department’s shrinking headcount as new hiring drive is set to launch
Truss vows 'Britain shaped' trade deals must boost levelling-up agenda
30 Oct 2020 Economy
Truss vows 'Britain shaped' trade deals must boost levelling-up agenda
International trade secretary sets out vision for free trade as a “lean, green, value-creating machine”
Government remains focused on levelling up despite Covid, insists minister
27 Oct 2020 Economy
Government remains focused on levelling up despite Covid, insists minister
Northern Conservative MPs write to PM urging the cost of Covid not to be paid for by downgrading the levelling-up agenda
Sunak sets out ‘significantly’ boosted job-support package as local lockdowns spread
22 Oct 2020 Economy
Sunak sets out ‘significantly’ boosted job-support package as local lockdowns spread
Chancellor’s £4.1bn pandemic aid proposals come one week after HM Treasury said existing measures “covered all bases”
Comprehensive Spending Review halted as Treasury prioritises certainty – and reiterates pay restraint warning
21 Oct 2020 Economy
Comprehensive Spending Review halted as Treasury prioritises certainty – and reiterates pay restraint warning
Sunak says now is not the time for a full review
Treasury perm sec Scholar tight-lipped on impact analysis for Covid-19 tiers
21 Oct 2020 Economy
Treasury perm sec Scholar tight-lipped on impact analysis for Covid-19 tiers
Treasury perm sec grilled by MPs demanding figures for effect on businesses of new localised restrictions
HMRC ‘may never catch up’ with tax compliance work ditched because of Covid-19
16 Oct 2020 Economy
HMRC ‘may never catch up’ with tax compliance work ditched because of Covid-19
MPs flag £7.5bn shortfall in first-quarter compliance income on top of £3.5bn estimated fraud from furlough scheme
DIT launches engagement drive to inform trade plans
16 Oct 2020 Economy
DIT launches engagement drive to inform trade plans
Liz Truss says new groups will bring trade unions and civil society “closer to discussions”