Analysis All
Government's ‘top down-approach’ to net zero 'holding back progress'
02 Feb Analysis
Government's ‘top down-approach’ to net zero 'holding back progress'
Government needs to give mayoral authorities powers to deliver net zero goals, think tank says
Decision on extra pay increase ‘was the hardest call this year’, National Audit Office chief says
28 Dec 2022 Analysis
Decision on extra pay increase ‘was the hardest call this year’, National Audit Office chief says
Cost-of-living crisis and audit reform are biggest challenges to come this year, says Gareth Davies – who also recalls challenging days working as a postie at Christmas
Commercial All
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Motorola removed from government strategic suppliers list following ESN exit
18 May Commercial
Motorola removed from government strategic suppliers list following ESN exit
Company claims excision from roster of Whitehall's most significant commercial partners is a "routine update"
CCS defends Digital Marketplace closure and pledges to ‘reinstate transparency’
05 May Commercial
CCS defends Digital Marketplace closure and pledges to ‘reinstate transparency’
Suppliers and former officials have lamented the decision but procurement agency says platform could no longer "accommodate growing demands"
Digital, Data & Technology All
MoJ reprimanded after ‘bags of confidential documents’ exposed for over two weeks
31 May Digital, Data & Technology
MoJ reprimanded after ‘bags of confidential documents’ exposed for over two weeks
Sensitive data was left unsecured in prison holding area, according to data watchdog
‘It appals me’: ex-GCHQ director condemns government WhatsApp use
31 May Communications
‘It appals me’: ex-GCHQ director condemns government WhatsApp use
David Omand says informal comms should not be used to discuss important government information
Operational Delivery All
‘Dysfunctional’ FCDO systems left aid watchdog unable to recruit staff and pay contractors
25 May Civil Service Reform
‘Dysfunctional’ FCDO systems left aid watchdog unable to recruit staff and pay contractors
ICAI details recruitment and spending challenges following FCO-DfID merger
'Relentless' policy shifts have hit civil servants' faith in leadership, Chisholm says
19 May HR
'Relentless' policy shifts have hit civil servants' faith in leadership, Chisholm says
Officials have been "discombobulated" by non-stop change in policy and ministers, COO says
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
Officials aren’t ‘reluctant’ to tackle fraud and corruption, Chisholm says
16 May Fraud, Error Debt & Grants
Officials aren’t ‘reluctant’ to tackle fraud and corruption, Chisholm says
Cabinet Office perm sec tells MPs National Audit Office allegation is “not his experience”
Recovering £1.1bn in Covid debts will be ‘incredibly hard’, DBT perm sec admits
11 May Finance
Recovering £1.1bn in Covid debts will be ‘incredibly hard’, DBT perm sec admits
“Loosey-goosey” approach to first wave of business grants created a major obstacle to getting cash back, Davies tells MPs
HR All
PCS 'rules nothing out' amid Home Office staff concern over asylum policy
31 May HR
PCS 'rules nothing out' amid Home Office staff concern over asylum policy
PCS official says industrial solution could be sought to "look after welfare" of civil servants if Rwanda deal litigation fails
Unions win right to challenge High Court pensions decision
30 May HR
Unions win right to challenge High Court pensions decision
Move could result in lower Civil Service Pension Scheme contributions following McCloud judgment
Legal All
Minister defends civil servants who referred Johnson to police over lockdown breach claims
24 May Coronavirus
Minister defends civil servants who referred Johnson to police over lockdown breach claims
Officials could not "sit on" information discovered while preparing for the Covid Inquiry, Chalk says
NICS head calls on Stormont leaders to address 'governance gap'
23 May Legal
NICS head calls on Stormont leaders to address 'governance gap'
Jayne Brady warns budget will "cause enduring harm to public service delivery" as she invites party leaders to discuss power sharing
Project Delivery All
Delivery of troubled Home Office comms network programme pushed back to 2029
12 May Digital, Data & Technology
Delivery of troubled Home Office comms network programme pushed back to 2029
Work on Emergency Services Network began in 2015 and is now expected to complete a full decade behind original schedule
MPs voice fears about Cabinet Office’s latest shared-services drive
05 May Digital, Data & Technology
MPs voice fears about Cabinet Office’s latest shared-services drive
Report flags lack of business case, absence contingency plans for funding shortfalls and inconsistent “benefits” calculations
Property & Estates All
Places for Growth: Early-stage report floated 60,000 job relocations
26 May Civil Service Reform
Places for Growth: Early-stage report floated 60,000 job relocations
Figure is almost three times the number of moves the Cabinet Office eventually settled on
Government emissions fall 35% in five years
21 Apr Energy & Environment
Government emissions fall 35% in five years
But State of the Estate report finds failure to meet target to cut amount of waste generated
Communications All
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
24 May Communications
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
The home secretary missed a trick by skipping her speed-awareness course, while Gus O’Donnell fears a crony takeover of Whitehall
MoJ pulls tweet after criticism from high-ranking Met officer
19 May Communications
MoJ pulls tweet after criticism from high-ranking Met officer
Lynne Owens said ministry’s post gave an “inaccurate and offensive” portrayal of police work to support rape victims
Finance All
'Pathetic': MPs slam Treasury's response to aid spending concerns
22 May Finance
'Pathetic': MPs slam Treasury's response to aid spending concerns
Government rejected committee's call for ODA to be ringfenced for overseas development
Treasury confirms Civil Service Pension Scheme reform plan
17 May Finance
Treasury confirms Civil Service Pension Scheme reform plan
Reformed scheme will not have to cover costs for legacy schemes, policy statement says
Science & Engineering All
'Engage, evolve, embed': Behind the policing science and tech strategy
25 May Digital, Data & Technology
'Engage, evolve, embed': Behind the policing science and tech strategy
Policing’s chief scientific adviser Paul Taylor shares how the new science and technology strategy was developed – and what will be needed for it to succeed
‘He may go down as the most influential chief scientific adviser we’ve had’: experts reflect on Patrick Vallance’s time in government
04 Apr Science & Engineering
‘He may go down as the most influential chief scientific adviser we’ve had’: experts reflect on Patrick Vallance’s time in government
As government chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance became a household name as the calm and rational presence at the daily Covid briefings. Beckie Smith takes a look at the man behind the TV screen
Policy All
George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants
18 May HR
George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants
While the civil service is dominated by generalists when it comes to policy, junior civil servants may be the closest thing ministers have to experts
Whitehall ‘not moving fast enough’ on product-safety reform
12 May Economy
Whitehall ‘not moving fast enough’ on product-safety reform
Public Accounts Committee chair voices concerns about pace of progress with 2021 review
Energy & Environment All
‘Complete overhaul of Defra IT needed to ensure safe food and water,' MPs warn
16 May Digital, Data & Technology
‘Complete overhaul of Defra IT needed to ensure safe food and water,' MPs warn
Creaking tech infrastructure "at constant risk of failure or cyberattack", PAC finds
'Opening up my door to junior civil servants was powerful,' ex-environment secretary says
10 May Energy & Environment
'Opening up my door to junior civil servants was powerful,' ex-environment secretary says
George Eustice extols virtues of interrogating officials who have done 'hard graft to understand an issue'