Fight against public sector fraud undermined by patchy departmental data – report
23 Feb 2016 Economy
Fight against public sector fraud undermined by patchy departmental data – report

National Audit Office report says Cabinet Office's Fraud, Error and Debt team is "growing into a centre of expertise" – but warns departmental data is "often variable and not sufficient" to keep tabs on the true scale of public sector fraud
Cabinet Office creates new EDS role to help Whitehall focus on 'disruptive and long-term thinking'
22 Feb 2016 Economy
Cabinet Office creates new EDS role to help Whitehall focus on "disruptive and long-term thinking"

Powerful Economic and Domestic Secretariat to get a new deputy director to help departments focus on longer-term trends and the impact of technology
Treasury criticised by MPs over call to change Office for Budget Responsibility’s independent forecasts
22 Feb 2016 Economy
Treasury criticised by MPs over call to change Office for Budget Responsibility’s independent forecasts

Treasury committee says 2014 intervention by then-chief secretary Danny Alexander “gives the appearance of a minister trying to lean on the OBR”
Sue Cameron: The row over Google’s tax settlement with HMRC could have been avoided with a little more humility
18 Feb 2016 Economy
Sue Cameron: The row over Google’s tax settlement with HMRC could have been avoided with a little more humility

Why did George Osborne and his officials not admit that the tax system is not fit for purpose in 21st century Britain?
Peter Riddell: It’s early days for the English devolution agenda and the Treasury must keep a steady hand on the tiller
16 Feb 2016 Economy
Peter Riddell: It’s early days for the English devolution agenda and the Treasury must keep a steady hand on the tiller

English devolution is a journey without a clear destination – producing a long overdue rebalancing of power, but within continuing tight financial constraints
FDA union's Dave Penman: Plans to tear up the deal on civil service redundancy terms will undermine trust between politicians and public servants
15 Feb 2016 Economy
FDA union's Dave Penman: Plans to tear up the deal on civil service redundancy terms will undermine trust between politicians and public servants

Over the last decade the civil service has managed significant reductions in headcount. Why place all of this in jeopardy?
Public Accounts Committee chair Meg Hillier raises further questions about HMRC’s tax assurance commissioners
12 Feb 2016 Economy
Public Accounts Committee chair Meg Hillier raises further questions about HMRC’s tax assurance commissioners

MP Meg Hillier tells CSW that public confidence in the way HM Revenue and Customs reaches settlement deals with large corporations will be an issue until there is greater transparency
Public Accounts Committee challenges HMRC chief Lin Homer over Google tax settlement
11 Feb 2016 Economy
Public Accounts Committee challenges HMRC chief Lin Homer over Google tax settlement

HMRC chief executive Dame Lin Homer has told members of the Public Accounts Committee that civil servants should be proud of progress in tackling tax avoidance on the part of large companies



 
BIS estate to shrink from 80 sites to 'seven or eight', says minister Sajid Javid – as perm sec Martin Donnelly is pressed on Sheffield closure
10 Feb 2016 Economy
BIS estate to shrink from 80 sites to "seven or eight", says minister Sajid Javid – as perm sec Martin Donnelly is pressed on Sheffield closure

90% of business department's sites to close under BIS 2020 programme, says Sajid Javid, as Martin Donnelly calls decision to shut Sheffield office "one of the most difficult" of his career
Lord Maude to quit frontline politics
10 Feb 2016 Economy
Lord Maude to quit frontline politics

Former Cabinet Office minister leaving trade post "pretty soon" to take on private sector and not-for-profit roles
Crossrail: on time and on budget, is this how to get a major infrastructure project right?
08 Feb 2016 Economy
Crossrail: on time and on budget, is this how to get a major infrastructure project right?

Crossrail, the capital’s new east-west rail link, is on track to open on time and on budget. As well as being a boon for commuters, it could also improve the UK’s reputation for delivering major infrastructure projects. Colin Marrs digs around for some lessons
IFS: “Volatile” tax revenues could force George Osborne to make further spending cuts
08 Feb 2016 Economy
IFS: “Volatile” tax revenues could force George Osborne to make further spending cuts

Institute for Fiscal Studies warns that “very inflexible” fiscal target could "come at a cost", while rising demand for services and public sector employment costs will make implementing cuts harder