Analysis All
Departments getting better at evaluating major projects
24 Apr Analysis
Departments getting better at evaluating major projects
One-third of major projects now have a high quality evaluation plan in place, compared to just 8% in 2019
'Test-and-learn' approaches among proposed new additions to evaluation handbook
16 Apr Analysis
'Test-and-learn' approaches among proposed new additions to evaluation handbook
Evaluation Task Force seeks feedback from across government on potential updates to the Magenta Book
Commercial All
Home Office perm sec sets out plans to tackle compliance ‘weaknesses’
08 May Commercial
Home Office perm sec sets out plans to tackle compliance ‘weaknesses’
Antonia Romeo tells MPs multi-million-pound asylum-accommodation failings exposed need for “incentivised culture-change”
DBT seeks watchdog's advice on £136m Post Office subsidy to replace Horizon IT system
01 May Commercial
DBT seeks watchdog's advice on £136m Post Office subsidy to replace Horizon IT system
Department has proposed giving the public corporation significant funding to deliver ongoing tech upgrade work this year in support of eventual migration from Fujitsu platform
Digital, Data & Technology All
Ex-cab sec and politicians share ideas to reform the state as think tank rebrands
19 May Civil Service Reform
Ex-cab sec and politicians share ideas to reform the state as think tank rebrands
Re:State – previously Reform – publishes essay collection in which Mark Sedwill calls for "sustained political will, coherent leadership and a clear strategy"
Joined-up data and multi-disciplinary teams: DfE sets out how it is driving cross-government work on opportunities mission
19 May Civil Service Reform
Joined-up data and multi-disciplinary teams: DfE sets out how it is driving cross-government work on opportunities mission
DfE delivers update on how it is embedding mission-focused approach to improving outcomes for children, including governance and spending review tweaks
Operational Delivery All
HMRC labelled 'lumbering dinosaur' and urged to modernise systems
30 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
HMRC labelled 'lumbering dinosaur' and urged to modernise systems
PAC report finds rising costs of tax compliance and outdated systems have damaged trust in HMRC
Why is it so hard to sell an idea to government (even one that could make millions for the public purse)?
04 Apr Commercial
Why is it so hard to sell an idea to government (even one that could make millions for the public purse)?
To an outsider, reaching the right civil servants with an idea that could revolutionise services or save money seems impossible
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
Legal Aid Agency cyberattack: 'Large amount' of personal data exposed
19 May Security & Defence
Legal Aid Agency cyberattack: 'Large amount' of personal data exposed
Agency takes digital service down after data including addresses and criminal records compromised
Review to help government tackle fraudsters moves into second phase
23 Apr Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Review to help government tackle fraudsters moves into second phase
Jonathan Fisher KC's review to examine challenges faced by law enforcement in bringing fraudsters to justice
HR All
Defra announces closure of Newcastle office
15 May Energy & Environment
Defra announces closure of Newcastle office
Plans to shut Lancaster House hub come after upgrade and expansion
‘Devastating’: Why are hundreds of DWP staff at risk of losing their jobs and ability to stay in the UK?
15 May HR
‘Devastating’: Why are hundreds of DWP staff at risk of losing their jobs and ability to stay in the UK?
A quirk in the Department for Work and Pension’s pay policy means hundreds of staff are unable to extend their visas
Legal All
Ministerial directions and a 'powerful' board: Think tank's 'draft bill' sets out vision for statutory civil service
13 May Civil Service Reform
Ministerial directions and a 'powerful' board: Think tank's 'draft bill' sets out vision for statutory civil service
Cab sec would have responsibility for appointment and performance management of perm secs under IfG proposals
Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny?
09 May Brexit
Should we be worried about the decline of parliamentary scrutiny?
Complaints about declining standards of government scrutiny by parliament have been commonplace in recent times – particularly during the troubled years of Brexit and Covid. But how can such claims be objectively assessed, and crucially, have scrutiny standards since recovered?
Project Delivery All
Former DfT director appointed as NISTA chief exec
17 Apr HR
Former DfT director appointed as NISTA chief exec
Becky Wood, who joins the new body from EY, was senior responsible officer for Crossrail and other major rail projects
Continuing overspends on major capital projects in Northern Ireland dubbed 'unacceptable'
08 Apr Local & Devolved
Continuing overspends on major capital projects in Northern Ireland dubbed 'unacceptable'
Urgent review of NICS Board needed, NI Public Accounts Committee says as £3bn overspend revealed
Property & Estates All
Wonders and blunders: The best and worst of government buildings
16 May Property & Estates
Wonders and blunders: The best and worst of government buildings
Forget break-out spaces and collaboration zones, many civil service offices of the past were ugly, impractical and unpleasant to work in. Jim Dunton explores the history of some of government’s most notorious buildings – and pays homage to some of the pioneering ones too
London-based civil service headcount to be cut by 12,000
14 May Civil Service Reform
London-based civil service headcount to be cut by 12,000
DHSC's Victoria Street headquarters to close amid push to move more jobs to regions
Communications All
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
13 May Communications
Fact checker defends ex-perm sec over pension-reform claims
Full Fact says claims about Sir Robert Devereux being "responsible for increasing the state pension age to 67" are missing context
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
03 Apr Communications
As the Freedom of Information Act turns 20, can it outwit the delete button?
The positive effects of FoI risk being undermined by private communication channels
Finance All
UK aid is ten times more scrutinised than other government spending
12 May Finance
UK aid is ten times more scrutinised than other government spending
While aid-spending agencies make up only 1.3% of UK government spending, they are the subject of 12.5% of all government evaluations
‘Lessons being learned’ over GPA spending-control failings, MPs told
01 May Corporate Finance
‘Lessons being learned’ over GPA spending-control failings, MPs told
Cabinet Office perm sec Cat Little says checks and balances failed to expand at same pace as rest of agency
Science & Engineering All
Dinosaurs, data and digital policy: What are the woolly mammoths in the room?
08 May Digital, Data & Technology
Dinosaurs, data and digital policy: What are the woolly mammoths in the room?
Doug Gurr, newly appointed interim chair of the CMA and director of the Natural History Museum, warns that the UK is missing out on the fruits of scientific research
MPs back Tom Adeyoola for Innovate UK executive chair
16 Apr Digital, Data & Technology
MPs back Tom Adeyoola for Innovate UK executive chair
Entrepreneur gets select-committee thumbs up to lead tech-funding agency for £215k a year
Policy All
Crisis response handbook update sets out more prominent role for Cabinet Office
02 May Civil Service Reform
Crisis response handbook update sets out more prominent role for Cabinet Office
Refresh sets out new structures for responding to catastrophic crises, including new crisis SRO role
Lord Bichard: Inquiry chairs should not feel pressured to make recommendations that are ‘convenient’ to officials
01 May Civil Service Reform
Lord Bichard: Inquiry chairs should not feel pressured to make recommendations that are ‘convenient’ to officials
Highlights from a House of Lords debate into the effectiveness of statutory inquiries
Energy & Environment All
Jobs moving out of London, office closures and Fast Stream targets: How much of today's civil service reform announcement is new?
14 May Civil Service Reform
Jobs moving out of London, office closures and Fast Stream targets: How much of today's civil service reform announcement is new?
Ministers have also promised "thousands" of jobs will move to the regions and 50% of Fast Stream roles will be based outside the capital
Tamara Finkelstein to step down as Defra perm sec
29 Apr Energy & Environment
Tamara Finkelstein to step down as Defra perm sec
Policy profession head's "expertise, knowledge, and experience have been invaluable in driving forward real progress", environment secretary says