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
One Login security concerns have been addressed, minister says
22 May Security & Defence
One Login security concerns have been addressed, minister says
Concerns that the sign-in system is “carrying a high level of risk” are "outdated", online safety minister says
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"
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PAC report finds rising costs of tax compliance and outdated systems have damaged trust in HMRC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
Civil servants to get 3.25% pay rise
22 May HR
Civil servants to get 3.25% pay rise
Unions warn 2025-2026 pay remit guidance won't address skills shortages or historic earnings erosion
Cabinet Office names next civil service reform DG
22 May Civil Service Reform
Cabinet Office names next civil service reform DG
Janet Hughes will move from Defra, where she is director of the Future Farming and Countryside Programme
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
The government needs a workforce plan to inform civil service relocation
21 May Civil Service Reform
The government needs a workforce plan to inform civil service relocation
Last week brought major announcements about job relocations and office closures, but it will be a false start unless the government creates clarity and coherence out of the patchwork of civil service offices across the country
MoD breaks ground on site for 1,100 staff in Blackpool
20 May Security & Defence
MoD breaks ground on site for 1,100 staff in Blackpool
The Talbot Gateway site will be the new home for Defence Business Services in the region
Communications All
Perm sec-level job created to lead government comms as Simon Baugh departs
20 May Civil Service Reform
Perm sec-level job created to lead government comms as Simon Baugh departs
Director of government comms will “play pivotal role in overseeing major reform of how UK government communicates with the public”, advert says
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
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
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
Departments to set 10-year budgets for research and development
20 May Science & Engineering
Departments to set 10-year budgets for research and development
Science minister Patrick Vallance confirms plans to support long-term funding for certain R&D activities
Policy All
Government needs to give more clarity on 'missions', MPs told
21 May Civil Service Reform
Government needs to give more clarity on 'missions', MPs told
Inquiry hears doubts that departments are configured to deliver on Starmer’s cross-cutting ambitions
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
Energy & Environment 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
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