Sue Gray warns PM over civil service attacks and cuts
28 Mar Politics & Constitution
Sue Gray warns PM over civil service attacks and cuts
Former senior civil servant praises “heroic” ex-colleagues in House of Lords maiden speech
Kendall targets £5bn annual savings in welfare shakeup
19 Mar Politics & Constitution
Kendall targets £5bn annual savings in welfare shakeup
DWP will develop a new approach to safeguarding as part of back-to-work drive
Ministers reject MPs’ proposals on cross-department data sharing
10 Mar Politics & Constitution
Ministers reject MPs’ proposals on cross-department data sharing
Government claims it is developing a “more comprehensive approach” than PACAC prescribed
Tussle over watchdog panel’s access to national security adviser
07 Mar Politics & Constitution
Tussle over watchdog panel’s access to national security adviser
Cabinet Office says Johnathan Powell is a spad and shouldn’t give evidence to Westminster committee in public
PACAC launches inquiry into mission delivery
07 Mar Politics & Constitution
PACAC launches inquiry into mission delivery
Committee plans to shine a light on how PM's missions and mission-driven approach will be delivered in practice
Ministers urged to get a grip on ‘opaque’ public bodies
28 Feb Politics & Constitution
Ministers urged to get a grip on ‘opaque’ public bodies
Think tank identifies 100 organisations that could be brought back in house, closed or "reconstituted", including DVLA and the Government Property Agency
Ex-cabinet minister recounts ‘damaging’ Treasury exceptionalism
21 Feb Politics & Constitution
Ex-cabinet minister recounts ‘damaging’ Treasury exceptionalism
John Denham describes department as “a law unto itself” that would do destructive things to other parts of government without consultation
Hancock speaks up for civil servants over ‘blocker’ accusations
19 Feb Politics & Constitution
Hancock speaks up for civil servants over ‘blocker’ accusations
Former health secretary says initiatives usually fail because of opposition from the PM or secretaries of state
‘Incoherent approach’ to sentencing blamed for prisons crisis
18 Feb Politics & Constitution
‘Incoherent approach’ to sentencing blamed for prisons crisis
Gauke review says “knee-jerk response” of locking criminals up for longer without evidence of any benefit is a major factor
Government to explore potential for ‘wider reform’ of inquiries system
14 Feb Politics & Constitution
Government to explore potential for ‘wider reform’ of inquiries system
Cabinet Office sets out approach to reform in response to House of Lords report
Treasury perm sec pledges probe into OBR forecast 'leak'
13 Feb Politics & Constitution
Treasury perm sec pledges probe into OBR forecast 'leak'
James Bowler tells MPs release of data not intended for publication is "deeply unwelcome"
Top health officials ‘have not been preparing NHS for the future’, MPs say
29 Jan Politics & Constitution
Top health officials ‘have not been preparing NHS for the future’, MPs say
PAC report says DHSC and NHS officials lack ambition, fresh thinking and readiness to be radical
Scottish Conservatives criticise 'spiralling' civil service costs
28 Jan Politics & Constitution
Scottish Conservatives criticise 'spiralling' civil service costs
Craig Hoy says Scottish Government civil service wage bill has risen by 10% in the past two and a half years
Civil service 'incompetence' to blame for rising debt, ex-minister says
27 Jan Politics & Constitution
Civil service 'incompetence' to blame for rising debt, ex-minister says
Lord Agnew says failures of the state are "blocking economic growth" and "eroding our status as a first-world economy"
PCS renews call for civil-service-wide collective bargaining on pay
24 Jan Politics & Constitution
PCS renews call for civil-service-wide collective bargaining on pay
Union says Labour's Employment Rights Bill reforms don't go far enough
Treasury perm sec predicts NAO will reject next Whole of Government Accounts
24 Jan Politics & Constitution
Treasury perm sec predicts NAO will reject next Whole of Government Accounts
Missing data likely to mean 2023-24 figures will fail to achieve sign-off, just like 2022-23 accounts
PAC chair defends criticism of HMRC’s customer service approach
23 Jan Politics & Constitution
PAC chair defends criticism of HMRC’s customer service approach
Committee chair and HMRC perm sec exchange letters over scathing report
MPs question HMRC's status as a non-ministerial department
20 Jan Politics & Constitution
MPs question HMRC's status as a non-ministerial department
Minister James Murray insists he wants tax agency to "take more risks" and get out of its "comfort zone"
Tories seek investigation into claim Angela Rayner asked officials to help her move
20 Jan Politics & Constitution
Tories seek investigation into claim Angela Rayner asked officials to help her move
Opposition also make ministerial code breach claims over David Lammy and Steve Reed speeches
HMRC 'could get further headcount boost' to cut tax gap, minister says
17 Jan Politics & Constitution
HMRC 'could get further headcount boost' to cut tax gap, minister says
James Murray tells MPs department was under-staffed by the previous government
Treasury minister resigns after PM's standards adviser completes investigation
15 Jan Politics & Constitution
Treasury minister resigns after PM's standards adviser completes investigation
Laurie Magnus says Tulip Siddiq did not breach code but that Keir Starmer may "want to consider her ongoing responsibilities" in letter to PM
Departments get better at responding to parliamentary questions on time
14 Jan Politics & Constitution
Departments get better at responding to parliamentary questions on time
However, concerns raised at continued deterioration of Defra's parliamentary question response rate
Zero civil service home-working 'should be the baseline' – Lord Maude
10 Jan Politics & Constitution
Zero civil service home-working 'should be the baseline' – Lord Maude
At the other end of the spectrum, Lords debate sees former Sunday Telegraph editor call for 20% office working
Treasury minister refers herself to PM's standards adviser
06 Jan Politics & Constitution
Treasury minister refers herself to PM's standards adviser
PM says Tulip Siddiq “has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser”