Leadership

Welsh first minister says there is “no real machinery for a regular heads of government meeting” – as Silk Commission chair reveals he considered calling for separate civil service.

National Audit Office survey finds concern among government's digital leaders over their ability to recruit and retain staff – but there's support for many Cabinet Office intiatives to sharpen tech skills

Amid reports chancellor looking to cut voluntary civil service redundancy payouts by a further six months – a move first floated in 2010 – unions warn of "war by the government against its own staff"

As first civil service commissioner, it’s Sir David Normington’s job to ensure civil servants are appointed on merit — but the commission also tries to ensure that the values of honesty, impartiality, integrity and objectivity are upheld. And, as Normington writes, those values are one of the civil service’s major selling points

New 'specialist' payscale to help recruitment, staff cuts at the Cabinet Office, Single Departmental Plans, the future of civil service reform, details on a brand new leadership academy – as the civil service chief executive and minister for the Cabinet Office face MPs, CSW tries to keep up...

Former Ministry of Justice permanent secretary says technology-enabled flexible working can help disabled civil servants progress in their careers, even in an era of prolonged cut-backs

Chief executive of the Defence Equipment and Support agency says fresh Trident cost estimates are proof of an end to a culture in which the MoD has been "unrealistic about the numbers"

Fiscal watchdog predicts 0.1m drop in public sector workforce by 2020, but says pay restraint will reduce need for cuts

Reaction to the chancellor's Spending Review from Peter Riddell, Matthew Taylor, Dave Penman, Mark Serwotka, Garry Graham and Carolyn Fairbairn

The Prime Minister described top official as “somewhere between a brother and a father” to all in the Number 10 team

The chief executive of the Whitehall & Industry Group discusses key lessons from his time as disability champion at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

We rightly expect a lot from our perm secs – and the controversy over public funding for the Kids Company charity shows how important their advice can be

Significant victory for NHS chief executive Simon Stevens as chancellor George Osborne brings forward promised NHS investment

Civilian MoD workforce reportedly in line for staffing reductions as David Cameron prepares to unveil Strategic Defence and Security Review

No employer in the private sector would see a five year pay freeze – followed by a 1% cap – as the route to success, argues the deputy general secretary of the Prospect union

Healthcare Financial Management Association urges the government to go beyond £8bn pledge – and sounds the alarm on NHS deficits

The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills may be facing a tough Spending Review settlement, but permanent secretary Martin Donnelly tells Matt Foster that the “honest and open” culture at BIS will endure – whatever the chancellor decides

Exclusive: Business department's top official Martin Donnelly tells CSW he will have "failed" if diversity agenda falls by the wayside – and sheds light on what the BIS 2020 review means for the organisation's regional presence

Civil service People Survey results show engagement steady, but fewer civil servants believe they have the right tools to do their job

A look back at Margaret Thatcher's time in office shows the real story of balance and partnership between ministers and civil servants

Stinging report by the Public Accounts Committee says government funding to the collapsed charity was “never seriously questioned, let alone stopped”

Insitute for Government report says there is "insufficient recognition" that "less money will often mean doing less" – and urges clear statements of intent from new single departmental plans

PCS and Prospect plan walkouts over pay and terms – while the agency's chief says strike move is "disappointing"

Ahead of tonight's Civil Service Awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace, the Cabinet secretary hails the "passion, imagination and ingenuity" of officials across government