Commercial

Proportion of money spent with small firms continues to rebound

Chinese vendor will remain excluded from so-called core areas of the network

Plans for reform also include consistent use of cross-disciplinary teams in departments as contracts are signed

More than two-thirds surveyed predict a surge in business from government, councils and health service

Watchdog says keenness to proceed with Liverpool project led to deal being struck before construction failings were known

Officials failed to learn lessons as cost of projects rockets by 115%, NAO says

Evaluation underway after warnings that contract with operator Arriva may collapse within months

Manager set up monthly payments to his own business for made-up IT services contract

Union says proposals show "a lack of understanding of the modern realities of the civil service"

More power should be held by the prime minister’s office, says think tank in a paper influenced by Dominic Cummings

Plans to support entrepreneurs "from the moment the seed of an idea is planted" also include apprenticeship levy revamp

Key question is whether services would be better managed in the public sector, IFS says