Analysis All
The civil society data gap matters – and this is how we fill it
19 Oct 2021 Analysis
The civil society data gap matters – and this is how we fill it
Civil society is a vital part of our lives, but we know relatively little about the health of the sector. Ed Humpherson makes the case for taking action now to ensure policymakers have the data they need to better support – and work with – civil society in the future
More than three-quarters of people completed census online
27 Jul 2021 Analysis
More than three-quarters of people completed census online
National statistician reveals ONS exceeded target for first digital exercise
Commercial All
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
12 Jan Commercial
High Court rules 'VIP lane' for PPE procurement unlawful
Some firms marked as high priority for contracts with "no objectively justifiable grounds for expediting the offer", court finds
Tory peer ‘secretly involved’ with firm that won £200m in PPE contracts after she referred it to ‘VIP lane’
07 Jan Commercial
Tory peer ‘secretly involved’ with firm that won £200m in PPE contracts after she referred it to ‘VIP lane’
Companies in the fast-track lane were 14 times more likely to win contracts than other suppliers, according to the NAO
Digital, Data & Technology All
Machines advise, people decide
18 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
Machines advise, people decide
Machine Learning systems could be enormously valuable in government – but civil servants must ensure that no citizen is disadvantaged. It is crucial to manage development and operation of those systems carefully
2022: the year the public sector fights back
17 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
2022: the year the public sector fights back
Tim Skinner, public sector director at NetApp UKI discusses the challenges organisations face moving into 2022, and also the ways they can overcome these obstacles
Operational Delivery All
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MPs to forcibly publish report on benefits system after ‘repeated obstruction’ from DWP
17 Jan Operational Delivery
MPs to forcibly publish report on benefits system after ‘repeated obstruction’ from DWP
Work and pensions secretary Thérèse Coffey has repeatedly refused to publish the research
A Differentiated Future
11 Jan Operational Delivery
A Differentiated Future
Discover opinions and insights from the latest series of surveys of heads of UK higher education. PA consulting provides a tool for the public sector to learn about the changing strategies of universities and the range of issues leaders in education face
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
CMA chief exec announces plan to step down
10 Jan Economy
CMA chief exec announces plan to step down
Andrea Coscelli will leave regulator at the end of July after six years as CEO
'The last couple of years have had a science fiction feel': Gareth Davies on the NAO's Covid scrutiny and trials of remote work
03 Jan Coronavirus
'The last couple of years have had a science fiction feel': Gareth Davies on the NAO's Covid scrutiny and trials of remote work
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The National Audit Office boss tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges
HR All
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – January 17
17 Jan HR
Latest civil service & public affairs moves – January 17
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
17 Jan Communications
Cabinet Office offers £118k for ‘exceptionally talented’ news chief
The head of news will set the Cabinet Office’s media relations strategy
Legal All
Data watchdog warns civil servants not to delete messages amid party probe
14 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
Data watchdog warns civil servants not to delete messages amid party probe
ICO says “erasing, destroying or concealing” relevant information is a criminal offence
Opinion: Two questions Sue Gray must answer about her Covid party probe, and one for us
11 Jan Coronavirus
Opinion: Two questions Sue Gray must answer about her Covid party probe, and one for us
"If the purpose of the partygate inquiry is to reassure us, then we’re being asked to accept a string of foolish choices," a former civil servant writes
Project Delivery All
Poor evaluation means government ‘not learning from failure’, NAO head warns
10 Jan Internal Audit
Poor evaluation means government ‘not learning from failure’, NAO head warns
“Limited consequences” for failing to evaluate projects means too few public bodies are doing so, Gareth Davies says
Airport fit for Air Force One
05 Jan Operational Delivery
Airport fit for Air Force One
It went off without a hitch, but the logistics of gathering World leaders in Cornwall for the G7 Summit in June 2021 didn't just happen on its own, but with the expertise of Costain. Here's how we made Newquay Airport fit for a President, and for the arrival of Joe Biden
Property & Estates All
DWP to move more than 3,000 staff to central Blackpool
11 Nov 2021 HR
DWP to move more than 3,000 staff to central Blackpool
Purpose-built office by main railway station will replace sites in north of town
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
05 Nov 2021 Coronavirus
Pandemic-driven flexible working progress saves hundreds of HMRC jobs
But department’s annual report estimates fraud in Covid support schemes topped £6bn in 2020-21
Communications All
Departments hunt for new comms chiefs
05 Jan Communications
Departments hunt for new comms chiefs
HMRC offers up to £130k a year for next top dog but Home Office sets £120k limit
FCDO morale at ‘rock bottom’ as government denies 10% staff cuts planned
17 Dec 2021 Civil Service Reform
FCDO morale at ‘rock bottom’ as government denies 10% staff cuts planned
Unions condemn "mixed messages" after an email sent to officials said there would be cuts and voluntary redundancy schemes
Finance All
Places with high homelessness rates not receiving enough levelling up funding, think tank warns
14 Jan Economy
Places with high homelessness rates not receiving enough levelling up funding, think tank warns
Fund places too much emphasis on physical infrastructure and too little on social issues, report argues
MPs voice concerns over Javid’s £1bn private hospitals ministerial direction
13 Jan Coronavirus
MPs voice concerns over Javid’s £1bn private hospitals ministerial direction
Health secretary signs off on £90m-a-month plans to put sector on standby to provide backup for NHS services
Science & Engineering All
Home Office appoints panel to advise on 'scientific' ways to verify age of asylum seekers
07 Jan Digital, Data & Technology
Home Office appoints panel to advise on 'scientific' ways to verify age of asylum seekers
Ethical concerns have been raised over the plans for medical age assessment
Whitty knighted in New Year's Honours celebrating government scientists and medics
04 Jan Coronavirus
Whitty knighted in New Year's Honours celebrating government scientists and medics
UKHSA and MHRA heads also recognised, along with new Scottish Government perm sec
Policy All
‘This is my job’: Whitty says he is not ‘treading on ministers’ toes’ by advising public to cut down on festive socialising
16 Dec 2021 Coronavirus
‘This is my job’: Whitty says he is not ‘treading on ministers’ toes’ by advising public to cut down on festive socialising
Chief medic also says "only people who have no understanding of health" believe Covid is being over-prioritised by medical professionals
MPs pick new Home Affairs Committee chair
16 Dec 2021 Justice & Home Affairs
MPs pick new Home Affairs Committee chair
Diana Johnson wins vote to replace Yvette Cooper on influential scrutiny panel
Energy & Environment All
Defra accused of 'blind optimism' over post-Brexit farming plans
11 Jan Energy & Environment
Defra accused of 'blind optimism' over post-Brexit farming plans
Department has given "no detail" on how payment schemes will work, PAC says
Breaking records and battling for better water quality – Environment Agency's Emma Howard Boyd reflects on 2021
03 Jan Energy & Environment
Breaking records and battling for better water quality – Environment Agency's Emma Howard Boyd reflects on 2021
2020 may have been a year like no other, but 2021 was a chip off the old block and relentless from day one. The EA chair tells us about 12 more months of dealing with Covid while pushing ahead with new challenges