Commercial

Outgoing Foreign Office permanent secretary stresses the need for “balance” between the centre of government and individual departments ahead of further reforms

PAC chair Meg Hillier accuses the DCLG perm sec of "sophistry" as Melanie Dawes seeks to explain communities department's handling of scheme to free up public land for new homes

Justice secretary stresses that departmental non-execs – designed to sharpen outside scrutiny of Whitehall – are ministerial appointments, after overseeing shake-up of MoJ board

Follow all the action as chancellor George Osborne delivers his latest Budget

"Robespierre terror" of Public Accounts Committee under former chair Margaret Hodge will be copied by more MPs, former health secretary warns officials

Report by the National Audit Office says centre of government must do more to ensure departments make better use of information about outsourced public services, including standardising data and improving Whitehall skills

Government Digital Service chief Mike Bracken says government still on a "journey" in encouraging citizens to opt for online transactions with the state

Business secretary tells MPs that flagship coalition project will be moved out of the public sector to allow it to borrow more and "grow its business"

Cabinet secretary says Civil Service Awards provide rare opportunity for “boasting” about achievements

Report by the NAO says departments have often failed to set out rationale for use of payment-by-results mechanisms

Minister for the Cabinet Office Matt Hancock says new "implementation taskforces" recognise the need for cross-government working, but stresses the need for accountability

Telecoms firms withdraws from key part of the Emergency Services Network bidding process