Analysis All
The Alternative People Survey: Departments lack capability and capacity to deliver on priorities, civil servants warn
09 Jul Analysis
The Alternative People Survey: Departments lack capability and capacity to deliver on priorities, civil servants warn
Officials tell CSW-Re:State survey they know what their department's priorities are, but express concern about having the right resources to deliver on them
Scottish Government launches evaluation-and-appraisal centre
27 May Analysis
Scottish Government launches evaluation-and-appraisal centre
Creation of the centre recognises key role the two processes play in effective decision making, minister says
Commercial All
Cat Little: Capita has ‘underestimated’ complexity of MyCSP transition
08 Jul Commercial
Cat Little: Capita has ‘underestimated’ complexity of MyCSP transition
Cabinet Office perm sec says the firm has so far missed seven of eight milestones in its transition to taking over the Civil Service Pension Scheme administration
Industrial strategy: Civil service reforms aim to build 'enduring partnership' with business
23 Jun Civil Service Reform
Industrial strategy: Civil service reforms aim to build 'enduring partnership' with business
Strategy contains a series of changes to improve how government works with business, including building up commercial skills and better coordination between departments
Digital, Data & Technology All
NCA officer jailed for stealing Bitcoin he helped to confiscate
18 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
NCA officer jailed for stealing Bitcoin he helped to confiscate
Paul Chowles handed five-and-a-half year sentence after pocketing cryptocurrency from Silk Road 2.0 co-founder
‘Serious departmental error’: MoD official's Afghan data breach revealed
16 Jul Security & Defence
‘Serious departmental error’: MoD official's Afghan data breach revealed
Information Commissioner's Office says the "deeply regrettable incident" put "thousands of vulnerable people at risk" and "can never happen again"
Operational Delivery All
Home Office to set up cross-government team to monitor delivery of target to halve VAWG
21 Jul Civil Service Reform
Home Office to set up cross-government team to monitor delivery of target to halve VAWG
Department accepts NAO recommendation and says it is “developing options for this joint team to align with the delivery phase of the upcoming VAWG Strategy”
'Test-and-learn' squads to be sent to 10 areas across England
16 Jul Local & Devolved
'Test-and-learn' squads to be sent to 10 areas across England
Teams of policy officials, tech specialists and other experts will have an “explicit mandate to try new things and be creative"
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
DWP reports benefit fraud ‘heading in right direction’
14 Jul Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
DWP reports benefit fraud ‘heading in right direction’
Annual accounts show fraud-and-error rate dipped to 3.3% in 2024-25, down from 3.6% the previous year
Departments ‘must get better at using data analytics to combat fraud’
10 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
Departments ‘must get better at using data analytics to combat fraud’
NAO says properly harnessing technology and taking a preventative approach could turn “modest” savings into “billions”
HR All
Ofwat to be scrapped: Environment secretary confirms water sector shakeup
22 Jul Civil Service Reform
Ofwat to be scrapped: Environment secretary confirms water sector shakeup
New regulator will also take over responsibility for water functions at Environment Agency, Natural England and Drinking Water Inspectorate
Acoba abolished as McFadden sets out plans for Ethics and Integrity Commission
21 Jul Civil Service Reform
Acoba abolished as McFadden sets out plans for Ethics and Integrity Commission
Committee on Standards in Public Life to become beefed-up commission, while revolving-doors regulator's functions will be split up
Legal All
MP tables ‘real’ Hillsborough Law with duty of candour for civil servants
03 Jul HR
MP tables ‘real’ Hillsborough Law with duty of candour for civil servants
Move follows fears ministers are poised to push for a “watered down” version of pledged legislation
Ex-No.10 Policy Unit head Munira Mirza to play key role in think tank targeting 'Whitehall bureaucracy'
26 Jun Civil Service Reform
Ex-No.10 Policy Unit head Munira Mirza to play key role in think tank targeting 'Whitehall bureaucracy'
Fix Britain says "HR culture and bureaucracy of Whitehall" and rise in judicial reviews are among "factors that prevent functionality" in government
Project Delivery All
New business-case rules for major projects come into force
14 Jul Finance
New business-case rules for major projects come into force
Treasury issues guidance for departments on new requirements for projects and programmes in the GMPP
First app version of GOV.UK website launches
01 Jul Digital, Data & Technology
First app version of GOV.UK website launches
App aims to take "crucial services a step closer to citizens in a bid to cut life-admin”
Property & Estates All
Land Registry staff vote to end industrial action
18 Jul HR
Land Registry staff vote to end industrial action
Officials decide to end work to rule action after negotiating changes to office attendance rules
FCDO perm sec: latest aid cuts ‘easier to handle’ than 2021 reductions
11 Jul Foreign Affairs
FCDO perm sec: latest aid cuts ‘easier to handle’ than 2021 reductions
Olly Robbins says less than £500k was spent on department’s aborted Glasgow move
Communications All
Former top civil servants sign letter urging ministers to withdraw guidance on public speaking
14 Jul Communications
Former top civil servants sign letter urging ministers to withdraw guidance on public speaking
Guidance is "causing confusion and a chilling effect on public discussion" and should be withdrawn, experts say
Civil Service World announces partnership with the Charity for Civil Servants
09 Jul Communications
Civil Service World announces partnership with the Charity for Civil Servants
Collaboration aims to strengthen support for UK civil servants as charity approaches 140th anniversary
Finance All
NAO refuses to sign off Whole of Government Accounts again
18 Jul Finance
NAO refuses to sign off Whole of Government Accounts again
Spending watchdog blames ongoing crisis in local-government audit for “inadequate assurance” over billions of pounds in unaudited data
Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking
17 Jul Economics
Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking
Jeremy Hunt also speaks about the advice he gave to Wes Streeting and why he's not a fan of "mission-driven" government
Science & Engineering All
Emran Mian named as new DSIT perm sec
01 Jul HR
Emran Mian named as new DSIT perm sec
Digital technologies and telecoms DG will replace outgoing boss Sarah Munby
DESNZ seeks 'exemplary science communicator' to become chief scientist
21 May Energy & Environment
DESNZ seeks 'exemplary science communicator' to become chief scientist
Successful candidate will succeed Paul Monks, who is leaving for the British Geological Survey
Policy All
Civil Society Covenant: Government promises to 'respect, support and listen' to third sector
17 Jul Civil Service Reform
Civil Society Covenant: Government promises to 'respect, support and listen' to third sector
Newly published covenant aims to "reset relationship" between government and civil society
UK’s capacity to absorb economic shocks is shrinking, OBR chair warns
15 Jul Finance
UK’s capacity to absorb economic shocks is shrinking, OBR chair warns
Richard Hughes says there has been “a de facto willingness” on the part of successive governments to allow debt to continue growing
Energy & Environment All
DESNZ appoints Nesta chief Ravi Gurumurthy as lead NED
10 Jul Energy & Environment
DESNZ appoints Nesta chief Ravi Gurumurthy as lead NED
Department also appoints Prospect's Sue Ferns as non-exec
Ex-civil servant Peter Unwin returns as Natural England deputy chair
02 Jun Energy & Environment
Ex-civil servant Peter Unwin returns as Natural England deputy chair
Peter Unwin's four-decade civil service career includes a stint as acting perm sec at Defra