Foreign Affairs

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