Treasury seeks technical efficiencies of ‘at least 1% a year’ from departments
28 Apr Finance

Treasury seeks technical efficiencies of ‘at least 1% a year’ from departments

Perm sec tells MPs “stretching and realistic” Spending Review targets are being worked up with the Office for Value for Money
by Jim Dunton
UK’s capacity to absorb economic shocks is shrinking, OBR chair warns
15 Jul Finance
UK’s capacity to absorb economic shocks is shrinking, OBR chair warns
Treasury hikes threshold for when new salaries require senior minister's approval
15 Jul Finance
Treasury hikes threshold for when new salaries require senior minister's approval
New business-case rules for major projects come into force
14 Jul Finance
New business-case rules for major projects come into force
Cabinet Office targets £1bn-a-year savings through new efficiency pilot
07 Mar 2023 Finance
Cabinet Office targets £1bn-a-year savings through new efficiency pilot
Department will trial project which aims to modernise, automate and digitise government processes
Ben Wallace: MoD 'needs real money not fantasy efficiency savings'
16 Feb 2023 Finance
Ben Wallace: MoD 'needs real money not fantasy efficiency savings'
Defence secretary says defence budget has been "effectively raided" over three decades
Levelling up 'begging bowl culture' comments not a civil service rebuke, West Midlands mayor says
14 Feb 2023 Finance
Levelling up 'begging bowl culture' comments not a civil service rebuke, West Midlands mayor says
Andy Street says civil servants he has worked with "have been committed to making people’s lives better"
Dossier reveals errors and gaps in government 'debit card' spend data
13 Feb 2023 Finance
Dossier reveals errors and gaps in government 'debit card' spend data
MoD figures so “riddled with anomalies” they could not be included in database of government procurement card spend, Labour says
Treasury tightens reins on DLUHC spending decisions
10 Feb 2023 Finance
Treasury tightens reins on DLUHC spending decisions
Minister says new regime is a “delegation approach” that gives HMT sign-off on capital spend
'Stark' drop in real-terms civil service pay at all grades since 2010, analysis reveals
31 Jan 2023 Finance
'Stark' drop in real-terms civil service pay at all grades since 2010, analysis reveals
Value of senior civil servants' wages down by nearly a quarter but pay squeeze is not achieving expected savings, IfG warns
DIT urged to boost knowledge of UK’s regional strengths
31 Jan 2023 Finance
DIT urged to boost knowledge of UK’s regional strengths
Department must work with BEIS and DLUHC to better drive inward investment, NAO says
HMRC boss: Cabinet Office could demand information on would-be ministers’ tax affairs
26 Jan 2023 Finance
HMRC boss: Cabinet Office could demand information on would-be ministers’ tax affairs
As Zahawi row rumbles on, Jim Harra tells MPs of "frustration" over misleading briefings that department cannot challenge
DLUHC takes flak over Levelling Up Fund after councils 'wasted time and money' on bids
25 Jan 2023 Finance
DLUHC takes flak over Levelling Up Fund after councils 'wasted time and money' on bids
MPs tell top civil servants that lack of clarity over bidding criteria wasted local authorities’ cash
Treasury launches hunt for next chief economic adviser
23 Jan 2023 Finance
Treasury launches hunt for next chief economic adviser
Department offers up to £125k a year for Clare Lombardelli’s successor
DLUHC perm sec faces further grilling on levelling up funding decisions
19 Jan 2023 Finance
DLUHC perm sec faces further grilling on levelling up funding decisions
Watchdog MPs “disappointed” with Jeremy Pocklington’s stance as £2.1bn in new cash allocations creates fresh controversy
Treasury’s top economic adviser to leave for OECD
13 Jan 2023 Finance
Treasury’s top economic adviser to leave for OECD
Clare Lombardelli will become OECD chief economist in spring, after 18 years in the civil service
HMRC not deploying enough staff to tackle £42bn tax gap, MPs say
12 Jan 2023 Finance
HMRC not deploying enough staff to tackle £42bn tax gap, MPs say
"Eye-watering" sum owed in unpaid taxes could have helped fill "public spending black hole", PAC says
Northern Ireland civil servants could join strikes over 'offensive' sub-2% pay offer
09 Jan 2023 Finance
Northern Ireland civil servants could join strikes over 'offensive' sub-2% pay offer
Union urges members to reject "derisory" offer of £552 pay rise and vote on industrial action
'Some of the Treasury's hardest decisions are yet to come': Cat Little looks ahead
04 Jan 2023 Finance
'Some of the Treasury's hardest decisions are yet to come': Cat Little looks ahead
The Treasury second perm sec says resilience is needed after "what feels like concurrent crises over an extended period"
Keeping pace with interest rate changes and saying goodbye: NS&I’s Ian Ackerley on 2023’s challenges
29 Dec 2022 Finance
Keeping pace with interest rate changes and saying goodbye: NS&I’s Ian Ackerley on 2023’s challenges
National Savings & Investments chief discusses a new savings landscape, five years in charge and his beef with summertime Christmases
‘I have to make sure the ship is not blown off course': Alex Chisholm's cross-government efficiency drive – and the teenage job that crushed his festive spirit
14 Dec 2022 Finance
‘I have to make sure the ship is not blown off course': Alex Chisholm's cross-government efficiency drive – and the teenage job that crushed his festive spirit
Striking the right balance between proactive and reactive priorities will be a challenge in 2023, the Cabinet Office perm sec and civil service COO predicts
Treasury perm sec James Bowler: Tom Scholar's departure ‘was not normal’
13 Dec 2022 Finance
Treasury perm sec James Bowler: Tom Scholar's departure ‘was not normal’
Top Treasury officials also say they "gave all the advice they should have done" ahead of disastrous mini-budget
FCDO to step up aid scrutiny as minister admits UK 'not a development superpower'
08 Dec 2022 Finance
FCDO to step up aid scrutiny as minister admits UK 'not a development superpower'
Development minister also planning restructure which could include new second perm sec
Defra ‘working up business case’ for APHA cash boost
07 Dec 2022 Finance
Defra ‘working up business case’ for APHA cash boost
Perm sec Tamara Finkelstein tells MPs department will need to reprioritise some work to offset inflation
National Audit Office boss: ‘We’re not a remote working organisation’
06 Dec 2022 Finance
National Audit Office boss: ‘We’re not a remote working organisation’
Some organisations made "premature" decisions, "boxing themselves into a strategy that they might now be regretting", Gareth Davies says
Perm secs take flak for major-project spending transparency
02 Dec 2022 Finance
Perm secs take flak for major-project spending transparency
MPs complain of late, poor-quality and “missing in action” accounting-officer assessments
Will the Autumn Statement’s short-term focus sideline longer-term outcomes for public services?
01 Dec 2022 Finance
Will the Autumn Statement’s short-term focus sideline longer-term outcomes for public services?
Public services may well have passed their tipping point, and short-term firefighting is clearly not the way back
Civil service job cuts 'should fund better pay for top new recruits'
01 Dec 2022 Finance
Civil service job cuts 'should fund better pay for top new recruits'
Performance-related pay and “senior specialist” roles would help departments attract more outside talent, IfG says