Foreign Affairs

Former cabinet secretary says civil servants will be informally working on preparations for British exit from the European Union in spite of official assurances

Prime minister says it would not be  "appropriate or permissible for the civil service or individual civil servants" to support ministers who diverge from the official government line on European Union membership

With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Mark Lowcock, permanent secretary of the Department for International Development, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

Foreign Affairs Committee chair Crispin Blunt welcomes “better outcome than had been feared” for the FCO

Defence committee takes evidence on the Strategic Defence and Security Review – with decision to axe 30% of MoD's civilian staff coming under fire from academics

Private sector providers can play an important role in realising the government’s One HMG Overseas approach to conflict stabilisation

National Cyber Centre to open in Cheltenham, George Osborne announces, amid flurry of security spending announcements in the wake of the Paris terror attacks

Ombudsman’s report has harsh words for Home Office and lessons for all government departments about how to use complaints to improve services

Cross-government SDSR to be unveiled two days before the Spending Review

LSE Diplomacy Commission warns over lack of joined-up foreign policy strategy – and says Foreign Office must do more to promote "family-friendly" career paths

Chatham House urges protection of FCO – while officials reportedly say they are "confident" of a good outcome at the Spending Review

Senior Tory backbencher joins former Treasury solicitor Sir Paul Jenkins in questioning removal of reference to international law

Cabinet Office says amended ministerial code continues to account for international conduct – but Sir Paul Jenkins warns of "contempt for the rule of international law"

Foreign Affairs Committee says FCO failing to prioritise human rights as resources are squeezed

Chancellor chairs first meeting of the public expenditure committee (PEX) — with DWP and DfID spending said to be under scrutiny

Investigatory Powers Tribunal says Wilson Doctrine has 'no legal effect'

Justice secretary Michael Gove tells MPs that Just Solutions International – the commercial arm of the National Offender Management Service – will abandon deal to advise Saudi Arabia on running of prisons

Beyond the comfort zone: Andrew Rogoyski, head of cyber security services at global IT supplier CGI, tells Civil Service World about an eye-opening secondment working on cyber security in the Cabinet Office

Defence secretary tells RUSI think tank that the latest cross-government defence strategy will be "positive, assertive and quite properly strategic"

MI5 director general Andrew Parker gives first live interview to "increase understanding" of intelligence agency's work – and suggests social media firms have an "ethical responsibility" to report terror concerns

Director general for civil service reform to take up post as Home Office’s second permanent secretary, with responsibility for immigration and free movement

Simon McDonald tells MPs it would be "illogical to focus fire on the FCO" in November's Spending Review

The official view: Clare Short spent six years as Tony Blair's international development secretary. Here she tells us about motivating officials, how her private secretary snuck her into a global trade conference, and why the civil service must pay "fair wages" to its staff

Royal United Services Institute says protection of Ministry of Defence budget alone may not be enough to safeguard against wider threats