Foreign Affairs

Peers question MPs' decision to further redact Brexit documents and call on David Davis to publish entire papers

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without.

FCO teams up with DFID and British Council to tender for four-year framework to provide networking to 550 sites in the UK and throughout the world

Cabinet secretary makes “statement of intent” about future rights to work in government

Department wants extra cash to fund efficiency reforms and a full defence review to follow national security adviser's work

Think-tank analysis identifies concessions on residency rights, a £39bn bill on the ‘never-never’, and hand-tying assurances on Northern Ireland in draft agreement

 Public Accounts Committee criticises departments' “business as usual” assumption for 2019 and berates pace of pan-Whitehall Border Planning Group 

New directors general roles announced after DIT expands by 1,000 staff in a year

Two parliamentary reports highlight problems at Irish border and frustration at perceived Whitehall “power grab”

Lack of Brexit clarity has stoked fears that government “will expect the impossible” from immigration staff

MPs accuse DExEU of "contempt" after sectoral analysis handed to Brexit committee was stripped of market-sensitive information

Appointments expected in first half of 2018 will fulfil Conservative party manifesto promise

But peer review finds HR qualms and suggests the organisation needs louder voice on air quality

Former perm sec argues FCO was disempowered by “unnecessary creation” of Department for International Trade

Home Affairs Committee report slams "completely unconvincing" Home Office plans to appoint just 300 new border staff

FCO wants a greater share of the UK aid budget and a stronger role leading foreign policy, officials tell MPs

PAC report says tax agency doesn’t yet have money to upgrade customs service and develop contingency option in case of delays

Appointment is the second new Cabinet minister in a week

Chief whip moved to MoD after Fallon says his conduct had ‘fallen below the high standards that we require of the armed forces’

Former ambassador to EU warns MPs the UK faces talent and data imbalance against backdrop of Article 50 process

National Audit Office warns shortage of key commercial and cost assurance experts could jeopardise £1.7bn savings target from non-competitive contracts

International development secretary and top officials insist department is pioneering transparency standards in government

Mark Bryson-Richardson, director of the Stabilisation Unit, tells Suzannah Brecknell how his team helps government respond to international emergencies