Economics

Insitute for Government report says there is "insufficient recognition" that "less money will often mean doing less" – and urges clear statements of intent from new single departmental plans

HM Revenue & Customs briefs staff on major downsizing of its estate – CSW has the key details and reaction from unions

HM Revenue and Customs chief executive says low staff morale is not damaging productivity – but acknowledges more work to do to make officials feel engaged with wider department

Chancellor George Osborne confirms that environment, communities and transport departments have struck a deal with the Treasury — as he hints at further changes to public sector pay and terms

Report by the National Audit Office spending watchdog finds that charity received £46m of public funding over 15 years

Public Accounts Committee calls for greater focus on preventing over- and underpayments

Labour asks the NAO to look into Just Solutions International

Chancellor chairs first meeting of the public expenditure committee (PEX) — with DWP and DfID spending said to be under scrutiny

General secretaries of the PCS and FDA unions renew their call for a rethink on civil service pay after cabinet secretary tells CSW officials are "realistic" about the need to cut the deficit

EVEL plans should be "piloted on statutory instruments"; pension freedoms could be putting savers at risk – the latest from the House of Commons select committees

Business secretary tells MPs that axing Department for Business, Innovation and Skills would be a "step backwards". But he asks: "Do we need 80 locations?"

Institute for Fiscal Studies gives its assessment ahead of the Spending Review – and warns easier efficiency savings have already been "identified and delivered"

Exclusive: HMRC staff to find out about new network of more specialised regional centres in November as tax authority seeks cut in its number of offices

Former head of the civil service asked by Labour to "review the operation of the Treasury itself" – as shadow chancellor John McDonnell signals major shift in the opposition's economic policy

Workforce shrinks by 8,000 posts – with GovCos and privatisations accounting for much of the change

Robert Chote – reappointed as chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility watchdog – says he is "relaxed" about Treasury suggesting changes to its independent forecasts

Select committee to question OBR's Robert Chote after e-mails show Treasury seeks changes to wording of draft forecast

Crown Commercial Service promises to boost role of smaller firms as provision of travel and conference booking for officials is split into four contracts

Former head of the civil service tells chancellor at Lords committee hearing that he believes argument for running a surplus is a "smokescreen" for a smaller state

Public and Commercial Services union makes "strong representations" to tax authority about "timescale and process" of 90-day talks, which department says may result in compulsory redundancies

Exclusive: Tax authority says it will aim to "avoid the need for compulsory redundancies" when 90-day process opens next week

Civil service chief executive talks up Single Departmental Plans, saying they will offer "single, clear roadmap" for managing resources ahead of the Spending Review

Treasury says spending review - set for November 25 - will be a chance to "review the role of government"

Push for £20bn of departmental cuts begins today - with spending review conclusions to be set out on November 25