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
Consultancy firm’s ban on bidding for government contracts is lifted
23 Mar Commercial
Consultancy firm’s ban on bidding for government contracts is lifted
Cabinet Office accused of "cop-out" over U-turn
Cabinet Office taps data analytics firm for ‘spring clean’ of millions of files
22 Feb Commercial
Cabinet Office taps data analytics firm for ‘spring clean’ of millions of files
Department extends existing supplier engagement in £500k deal
Digital, Data & Technology All
Court officials vote to end Common Platform dispute with HMCTS
22 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
Court officials vote to end Common Platform dispute with HMCTS
PCS general secretary lauds "huge victory" as 66% of members back a deal negotiated by the union
DVLA criticised for ‘antiquated’ operations and unclear modernisation strategy
17 Mar Digital, Data & Technology
DVLA criticised for ‘antiquated’ operations and unclear modernisation strategy
Backlogs report also accuses Department for Transport of taking “hands-off approach” to licensing agency
Operational Delivery All
Read the spring 2023 issue of Civil Service World
21 Mar Justice & Home Affairs
Read the spring 2023 issue of Civil Service World
Read exclusive interviews with Home Office perm sec Matthew Rycroft and first civil service commissioner Gisela Stuart – plus deep dives on the trade profession and chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance's legacy
PCS ballots civil servants on six more months of strikes, as it announces more walkouts
21 Mar HR
PCS ballots civil servants on six more months of strikes, as it announces more walkouts
Union urges civil servants to send a “clear message to the government” by backing further action
Fraud, Error Debt & Grants All
BEIS recovered just 1% of £1.1bn fraud in Covid support loans to small firms
24 Mar Coronavirus
BEIS recovered just 1% of £1.1bn fraud in Covid support loans to small firms
Losses come on top of multi-billion-pound Bounce Back Loans hit, National Audit Office says
DLUHC’s local-audit backlog issues ‘could get worse’, watchdog warns
16 Mar Finance
DLUHC’s local-audit backlog issues ‘could get worse’, watchdog warns
MPs are told that dealing with delayed local-council accounts could be hampered by NHS changes
HR All
Government hub named 'best public sector workplace in the world'
24 Mar Civil Service Reform
Government hub named 'best public sector workplace in the world'
Birmingham hub is only the second public sector building to get the certification
FCDO offers up to £160k for new second perm sec
24 Mar Foreign Affairs
FCDO offers up to £160k for new second perm sec
Role will lead on international development “in constrained resource environment” says Philip Barton
Legal All
Boris Johnson says Sedwill's resignation was reason for Partygate event held a month before cab sec quit
23 Mar Coronavirus
Boris Johnson says Sedwill's resignation was reason for Partygate event held a month before cab sec quit
MPs lose patience with ex-PM's reliance on "flimsy" assurances from advisers that Covid rules were followed in heated hearing
Simon Case denies telling Boris Johnson Partygate gatherings complied with Covid rules
22 Mar Communications
Simon Case denies telling Boris Johnson Partygate gatherings complied with Covid rules
Ex-PM's PPS also "questioned whether it was realistic to argue that all guidance had been followed at all times"
Project Delivery All
The people with the purse strings are on the same side as you – here's how to play the government spending game
24 Mar Finance
The people with the purse strings are on the same side as you – here's how to play the government spending game
If you’ve felt that the government spending game is stacked against you trying to do the thing that feels obviously right: it’s not just you
MoD agrees 'achievable' new schedule for troubled Ajax programme
24 Mar Security & Defence
MoD agrees 'achievable' new schedule for troubled Ajax programme
Department will resume payments for the armoured vehicles as the programme is "returning to firm footing", minister says
Property & Estates All
DWP pledges to improve disabled people's experience of benefits system
15 Mar Health & Social Care
DWP pledges to improve disabled people's experience of benefits system
White paper promises to boost "trust and transparency" as Jeremy Hunt announces “biggest change to our welfare system in a decade"
Places for Growth drive to move civil service jobs hits halfway mark
24 Feb HR
Places for Growth drive to move civil service jobs hits halfway mark
Cabinet Office flags milestone in decade-long drive to relocate 22,000 civil service roles out of London
Communications All
TikTok banned on government devices in new security rules
16 Mar Communications
TikTok banned on government devices in new security rules
NCSC review has identified "risk around how sensitive government data is accessed and used by certain platforms"
Suella Braverman 'may have broken ministerial code' with attack on 'activist civil servants'
08 Mar Communications
Suella Braverman 'may have broken ministerial code' with attack on 'activist civil servants'
Home secretary lambasted for "cowardly" attack on Home Office staff over illegal migration bill
Finance All
Spring Budget defence and childcare boosts 'mean spending cuts elsewhere'
16 Mar Security & Defence
Spring Budget defence and childcare boosts 'mean spending cuts elsewhere'
Departments may have to cut £18bn following Hunt's announcements yesterday, IFS says
Spring Budget: Government launches new savings tracker amid departmental spending squeeze
15 Mar Economics
Spring Budget: Government launches new savings tracker amid departmental spending squeeze
IFS warns defence and childcare boosts could mean “very tough time for other spending areas”
Science & Engineering All
Angela McLean named first female government chief scientific adviser
21 Feb HR
Angela McLean named first female government chief scientific adviser
MoD's chief scientist will replace Patrick Vallance in April
Half of Fast Stream recruits will be STEM graduates, Simon Case says
17 Feb Civil Service Reform
Half of Fast Stream recruits will be STEM graduates, Simon Case says
Cab sec reveals reforms to this year's Fast Stream recruitment in university lecture
Policy All
‘These are almost impossibly difficult issues to grapple with’: Matthew Rycroft on Rwanda, Windrush and transforming the Home Office
20 Mar HR
‘These are almost impossibly difficult issues to grapple with’: Matthew Rycroft on Rwanda, Windrush and transforming the Home Office
‘Permacrisis’ may have been Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2022, but it’s been part of the Home Office lexicon for decades. What’s it like leading such a closely scrutinised department while trying to transform its culture at the same time?
Universal Credit sanctions tightened again as DWP told to publish research on their effectiveness
15 Mar Operational Delivery
Universal Credit sanctions tightened again as DWP told to publish research on their effectiveness
ICO tells DWP to publish evaluation it as chancellor says sanctions will be applied "more rigorously"
Energy & Environment All
Environment Agency names Treasury DG as chief exec
17 Mar Energy & Environment
Environment Agency names Treasury DG as chief exec
Philip Duffy will succeed James Bevan at Horizon House from July
Departmental delays ‘put government’s net-zero plans at risk’
02 Mar Economy
Departmental delays ‘put government’s net-zero plans at risk’
National Audit Office says lack of a delivery strategy for clean electricity could spook investors and ramp up costs