Analysis All
New prize will help business department find out what it doesn't know it needs to know
16 Nov Analysis
New prize will help business department find out what it doesn't know it needs to know
As DBT launches a new prize for early-career researchers, head of analysis Ben Cropper explains the importance of broadening and fostering conversation with external experts so analysts are better prepared to answer the questions of the future
Loss of government statisticians ‘is a worry’, MPs told
10 Nov Analysis
Loss of government statisticians ‘is a worry’, MPs told
Departments may struggle to retain key officials amid demand for skills, experts warn
Commercial All
Sponsored by Proxima
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£1bn 'at risk' in disputed pandemic PPE contracts signed by DHSC
22 Nov Commercial
£1bn 'at risk' in disputed pandemic PPE contracts signed by DHSC
Health department in negotiations over 36 contracts, with 3.8 billion items of PPE procured for Covid deemed not fit for purpose
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
14 Nov Civil Service Reform
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
Perm sec-level officials should lead push to streamline and strengthen digital, HR, commercial and other functions, review finds
Digital, Data & Technology All
Sponsored by Salesforce
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MPs sound alarm on DWP’s £1bn Health Transformation Programme
01 Dec Digital, Data & Technology
MPs sound alarm on DWP’s £1bn Health Transformation Programme
New service for disability-benefit claimants faces “significant risks” that have derailed other major projects, Public Accounts Committee says
'Government Digital and Data' brand launched, alongside 'clearer path' to specialist roles
01 Dec Digital, Data & Technology
'Government Digital and Data' brand launched, alongside 'clearer path' to specialist roles
Brand represents "first ever community leading digital transformation in government", Cabinet Office says
Operational Delivery All
Home Office vetoes MPs' request to attend immigration inspection
29 Nov Justice & Home Affairs
Home Office vetoes MPs' request to attend immigration inspection
Request to accompany borders watchdog was denied to "preserve the independence of the inspectorate", select committee told
Lack of 'operational readiness' delayed measures to curb Covid, Vallance says
20 Nov Coronavirus
Lack of 'operational readiness' delayed measures to curb Covid, Vallance says
"Urgency of action" was not "as consistent and as reliable as it should have been across Whitehall", ex-scientific adviser says
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
Government rejects call to share more fraud intel, saying it 'could increase fraud threat'
16 Nov Civil Service Reform
Government rejects call to share more fraud intel, saying it 'could increase fraud threat'
Treasury and Cabinet Office refuse MPs' request for annual fraud intelligence report
Auditor KPMG hit with ‘record’ £21m fine for Carillion failings
13 Oct Commercial
Auditor KPMG hit with ‘record’ £21m fine for Carillion failings
Scrutiny of collapsed outsourcer’s finances was “very bad, over an extended period”, boss admits
HR All
Cutting civil service jobs could make pay 'less of an issue', says Maude
30 Nov Civil Service Reform
Cutting civil service jobs could make pay 'less of an issue', says Maude
"I would rather have a civil service that is leaner," former Cabinet Office minister says
Whitehall has a people problem
30 Nov Civil Service Reform
Whitehall has a people problem
The failure to grasp poor performance and painfully slow recruitment processes are impeding government’s ability to deliver for citizens
Legal All
Proposed law could enable departments to prevent people deleting digital data
27 Nov Digital, Data & Technology
Proposed law could enable departments to prevent people deleting digital data
Powers proposed by the Home Office could affect the National Crime Agency, HMRC and the Serious Fraud Office
High Court rules against routine redaction of junior civil servants' names
21 Nov Justice & Home Affairs
High Court rules against routine redaction of junior civil servants' names
Human rights reform charity Justice celebrates "win for transparency"
Project Delivery All
MoD creates more routes for officials to raise safety concerns following review
28 Nov Security & Defence
MoD creates more routes for officials to raise safety concerns following review
Department outlines steps taken to address systematic and institutional issues raised in Ajax Lessons Learned Review
'Our job is to bring people and issues together': A guide to the project delivery profession
23 Nov HR
'Our job is to bring people and issues together': A guide to the project delivery profession
In this series, CSW provides a guide to professions and functions across the civil service. Each briefing looks at a different group, offering a glimpse of what they do and how they work with different parts of government
Property & Estates All
From Boyd to Bourgeois: GPA appoints interim chief exec
21 Nov HR
From Boyd to Bourgeois: GPA appoints interim chief exec
Government Property Agency interim chief Mark Bourgeois has worked in commercial real estate for more than 30 years
MoJ wins planning wrangle over new prison
17 Nov Justice & Home Affairs
MoJ wins planning wrangle over new prison
Gove overrules inspector to approve 1,715-capacity facility in Leicestershire
Communications All
Covid Inquiry: 2020 back-to-office drive ‘made absolutely no sense’
02 Nov Communications
Covid Inquiry: 2020 back-to-office drive ‘made absolutely no sense’
Government ditched science and followed media and Conservative MPs, former No.10 comms chief Lee Cain says
Lee Cain: Comms professionals 'were shaping Covid policy because no one else was'
31 Oct Communications
Lee Cain: Comms professionals 'were shaping Covid policy because no one else was'
Former No.10 comms director tells inquiry the Covid pandemic was the "wrong crisis" for Boris Johnson’s "skill set"
Finance All
Departments need ‘significant’ productivity improvements, OBR chair warns
28 Nov Economy
Departments need ‘significant’ productivity improvements, OBR chair warns
Watchdog “doesn’t know” whether the government’s spending plans are plausible or not
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
28 Nov Finance
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
From humble beginnings as a prisoners' monies clerk to senior posts in the Treasury, Kevin Ross shares his journey through the civil service
Science & Engineering All
Abuse could deter scientists from key roles in future crises, Van-Tam warns
23 Nov Coronavirus
Abuse could deter scientists from key roles in future crises, Van-Tam warns
Former deputy chief medical officer says police asked him to move out of his home after his family were "threatened with having their throats cut"
Fast Stream hits 50% STEM grads recruitment target
26 Oct Digital, Data & Technology
Fast Stream hits 50% STEM grads recruitment target
Jeremy Quin says target is part of plan to "put innovation at the very core of policy making"
Policy All
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face real-terms cuts of 3.4%, IFS warns
23 Nov Economy
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face real-terms cuts of 3.4%, IFS warns
Think-tank says shrinking capital spending will be problematic for public-sector productivity drive
Whitty: No.10 should have consulted scientists on Eat Out To Help Out
22 Nov Coronavirus
Whitty: No.10 should have consulted scientists on Eat Out To Help Out
Chief medical officer says he "firmly" told Downing Street it should have informed him and Patrick Vallance about the Covid policy
Energy & Environment All
Defra morale ‘through the floor’ as pay-flexibility case delay holds up pay rise Exclusive
13 Nov Energy & Environment
Defra morale ‘through the floor’ as pay-flexibility case delay holds up pay rise
Defra staff lose hope of getting 2023-24 pay rise before Christmas, with Treasury and Cabinet Office yet to sign off on pay-flex case
Last chance to change: What more must the government do to build climate resilience?
18 Oct Energy & Environment
Last chance to change: What more must the government do to build climate resilience?
As climate change begins to intensify, the government has a lot to do to make our society more resilient to its consequences. We find out what government is getting right and where it needs to improve.