Economy

Watchdog says rapid timescale lacked “economic assessment of its implications”, ramping programme’s complexity and cost

Outsourcing firms Capita, Serco and Sopra Steria to produce first three living wills for outsourced services within weeks, says Cabinet Office minister

PCS boss says members report lack of preparedness for cliff-edge exit from European Union in March

Peers urge chancellor Philip Hammond to drop plans to extend the window in which HMRC can investigate taxpayers’ affairs if they had some tax dealings outside the UK

Philip Hammond heralded an end to austerity, but with growing pressures set to squeeze services further, his Budget can’t meet the public’s expectations

Public Accounts Committee points to rising fraud and error projections amid ‘daunting workload’

Alan Evans joins HMRC at a "critical time for the department", says permanent secretary Jon Thompson

Sir David Wright appointed as chair designate, with Electoral Commission head Claire Bassett named as chief executive designate

Hammond will also expands off-payroll working rules to the private sector

Chancellor also announces additional funding for Universal Credit after growing pressure 

But MPs hear department's confidence does not extend to no-deal Brexit preparations

Ending austerity in next week's Budget is a 'seemingly impossible task' for the chancellor, the Resolution Foundation said