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Letter dismisses government's claim that it meets 2% NATO defence spending target as “accounting deception”

Department-sponsored study flags move as part of wider reform of franchising system

Meg Hillier also slams lack of accountability for Whitehall chiefs after policy failures

Ministerial direction was required by DfT perm sec to provide funds for project

Review suggests priorities and spending decisions should be “more explicitly informed” by the return they provide on investment

Pre-election period to commence after MPs back poll

Move will free the institution from public sector ownership, says minister

Rail Group DG takes up post at the Department for Transport, increasing number of female departmental chiefs to five

Government Legal Department director targets multi-million pound efficiencies

Outgoing civil service commissioners highlight concerns that pay restrictions are limiting the attractiveness of some posts, while slow recruitment processes stop departments hiring top candidates

Former Cabinet Office minister says his perception of the civil service went “downhill a lot” during the coalition government