Foreign Affairs

Proceedings set to last for four days, with a ruling due in the new year

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Government communications executive director Alex Aiken takes part in our annual perm secs round-up​

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites.Clare Moriarty, permanent secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs takes part in our annual perm secs round-up​

DIT officials say Whitehall has trebled its trade policy staff numbers since the referendum, and stress focus on training up existing staff rather than drafting in outsiders

Former chief executive of the Office of Rail and Road has also been Defra and Home Office chief economist

FCO perm sec Simon McDonald has told MPs he is “hopeful” that the Treasury will announce a new fund to recruit trade policy staff in today’s Autumn Statement

 Former head of the civil service Lord Kerslake urges government to "pause, review, take stock of what it has in front of it and then revisit the question of capacity"

Labour Party says appointment of Pippa Malmgren raises “awkward questions” for international trade secretary Liam Fox

Aid watchdog hands international development department an amber/red rating for its exit and transition work, but DfID disputes the "rushed" report

Former Cabinet Office minister says he "very much" doubts more staff will be needed for Brexit and says departments can "reallocate" existing officials – as Downing Street claims leaked memo may be an attempt by consultants to win business

Next week's set piece fiscal statement will not include extra resources to cope with Brexit, according to a memo leaked to The Times

Making a success of Brexit does not mean UK should ditch its reputation as a "free, tolerant, outward facing society", says former Foreign Office permanent secretary