'Scrape the barnacles from the hull': Ex-chief of defence staff makes 'last throw of the dice' for radical change in MoD
16 Sep Finance

'Scrape the barnacles from the hull': Ex-chief of defence staff makes 'last throw of the dice' for radical change in MoD

MoD must be prepared to “risk public money so as to be more effective and go faster", Admiral Radakin says
by Suzannah Brecknell
DHSC second perm sec to become envoy for northern growth
30 Oct Finance
DHSC second perm sec to become envoy for northern growth
HMRC error means public sector borrowing was overestimated by £3bn
09 Oct Finance
HMRC error means public sector borrowing was overestimated by £3bn
DHSC second perm sec appointed as National Wealth Fund NED
02 Oct Finance
DHSC second perm sec appointed as National Wealth Fund NED
BEIS 'offered open goal to fraudsters’ with Covid loan schemes
19 May 2022 Finance
BEIS 'offered open goal to fraudsters’ with Covid loan schemes
Public Accounts Committee says the department officials failed to properly warn ministers of how severe potential fraud levels might be
Saving grace: NS&I chief Ian Ackerley on Covid turbulence, select committee grillings and green investment
18 May 2022 Finance
Saving grace: NS&I chief Ian Ackerley on Covid turbulence, select committee grillings and green investment
The chief executive of Britain’s venerable state-owned savings bank talks about its pandemic savings push, reputation management and transforming his organisation
Former EY partner hired as head of government risk profession
17 May 2022 Finance
Former EY partner hired as head of government risk profession
Clive Martin will spearhead work to produce an accredited learning and development offer for risk-focused officials
Ageing DWP IT 'stopped Sunak raising benefits to keep pace with inflation'
10 May 2022 Finance
Ageing DWP IT 'stopped Sunak raising benefits to keep pace with inflation'
Reports claim chancellor was advised that payments of legacy benefits could only be increased once a year
Former DCMS perm sec takes on UK Debt Management Office role
06 May 2022 Finance
Former DCMS perm sec takes on UK Debt Management Office role
Sue Owen’s appointment as non-exec chair of advisory board marks return to DMO after 16 years
‘We did what we could as quickly as we could’: Treasury perm sec rejects Covid fraud complacency claims
29 Apr 2022 Finance
‘We did what we could as quickly as we could’: Treasury perm sec rejects Covid fraud complacency claims
Tom Scholar told the Treasury Committee officials put together loan schemes under "exceptional circumstances"
While the chancellor deals in economic optimism, reality in the NHS is tough – and getting tougher
27 Apr 2022 Finance
While the chancellor deals in economic optimism, reality in the NHS is tough – and getting tougher
Sunak's plan to cut £4.75bn in “efficiency savings” from the NHS budget is a classic of the “heroic optimism untethered to reality” genre
A third of departments set to miss annual report deadline, Treasury says
26 Apr 2022 Finance
A third of departments set to miss annual report deadline, Treasury says
2021-22 reports will include statements on the impact of the pandemic on departmental goals plus a fraud-and-error analysis of Covid schemes
Red light, green light: examining the government's progress on improving its performance
22 Apr 2022 Finance
Red light, green light: examining the government's progress on improving its performance
CSW assesses progress against key actions set out in the Declaration on Government Reform, and explores how volunteering can boost skills and support key priorities
Watchdog clears ex-MoJ chief’s new job with government services firm
13 Apr 2022 Finance
Watchdog clears ex-MoJ chief’s new job with government services firm
Mike Driver to become non-executive chair of DWP and MoJ contractor Maximus UK
Preferred site for Treasury’s Darlington base revealed
12 Apr 2022 Finance
Preferred site for Treasury’s Darlington base revealed
Former car park is top pick for the exchequer’s northern home
FCDO and Treasury urged to start planning for increased aid spending
06 Apr 2022 Finance
FCDO and Treasury urged to start planning for increased aid spending
Imminent strategy eyes budget “rebalancing” towards bilateral programmes to give the UK more say on how cash is allocated
British Business Bank chiefs question ex-minister’s claims on Covid loan fraud data
16 Mar 2022 Finance
British Business Bank chiefs question ex-minister’s claims on Covid loan fraud data
Barclays boss tells MPs that HMRC could have given more anti-fraud help
Civil servants accused of ‘paranoid risk aversion’ over Covid support schemes
15 Mar 2022 Finance
Civil servants accused of ‘paranoid risk aversion’ over Covid support schemes
Ex-minister says entire board of British Business Bank should be sacked for Bounce Back Loan failings
FCDO was warned aid cuts would hit women, girls and disabled people hardest, leaked report reveals
15 Mar 2022 Finance
FCDO was warned aid cuts would hit women, girls and disabled people hardest, leaked report reveals
International Development Committee publishes document after Foreign Office repeatedly refuses to share it
How will we know when the government has hit its levelling up goals?
15 Mar 2022 Finance
How will we know when the government has hit its levelling up goals?
The levelling up white paper has grand and worthy aims. But, with soaring inflation set to bite, how well off will levelled-up places really be?
Ex-minister rips into Treasury perm sec over fraud ‘complacency'
10 Mar 2022 Finance
Ex-minister rips into Treasury perm sec over fraud ‘complacency'
Department a “Dad’s Army operation” when it came to keeping criminals away from the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, says Agnew
Changes to pension scheme regs will be ‘implemented by April’
04 Mar 2022 Finance
Changes to pension scheme regs will be ‘implemented by April’
Treasury says departments will publish McCloud remedy consultation feedback this month
Is the levelling up white paper fit for purpose?
02 Mar 2022 Finance
Is the levelling up white paper fit for purpose?
Weighing in at more than 300 pages, the government’s flagship policy document is not short of words. But is it short on substance?
Government can achieve levelling up agenda without new cash, perm sec says
02 Mar 2022 Finance
Government can achieve levelling up agenda without new cash, perm sec says
Andy Haldane says government can instead “tilt” existing budgets “in the direction of poorer areas”
Government ‘doesn’t know’ what net-zero goal will cost or how to pay for it, MPs warn
02 Mar 2022 Finance
Government ‘doesn’t know’ what net-zero goal will cost or how to pay for it, MPs warn
Report comes as IPCC warns of potential for “irreversible” damage over next 20 years
Overhauled No.10 operation 'flunked first test' amid confusion over Covid policy
23 Feb 2022 Finance
Overhauled No.10 operation 'flunked first test' amid confusion over Covid policy
Criticism comes after a row between the Treasury and DHSC over ending Covid restrictions forced the PM to delay a meeting to sign off the plans
Steve Barclay has promised a 'smaller state' – but what does that mean?
17 Feb 2022 Finance
Steve Barclay has promised a 'smaller state' – but what does that mean?
Colin Talbot explores the pros and cons of different approaches to measuring the size of government
Treasury pushes for free Covid testing to be scrapped despite SAGE warnings
14 Feb 2022 Finance
Treasury pushes for free Covid testing to be scrapped despite SAGE warnings
Removing tests could make it harder to take precautions and could disproportionately impact vulnerable people, experts say