Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking
17 Jul Finance

Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking

Jeremy Hunt also speaks about the advice he gave to Wes Streeting and why he's not a fan of "mission-driven" government
by Tevye Markson
Reeves announces late-November Autumn Budget
03 Sep Finance
Reeves announces late-November Autumn Budget
Spending Review 2025 recap: Here's everything you need to know
04 Aug Finance
Spending Review 2025 recap: Here's everything you need to know
In conversation with… former Treasury perm sec Lord Terry Burns
30 Jul Finance
In conversation with… former Treasury perm sec Lord Terry Burns
Test and trace: shortage of digital and data skills cited as reliance on consultants persists
29 Oct 2021 Finance
Test and trace: shortage of digital and data skills cited as reliance on consultants persists
MPs claim scheme has proven "eye-wateringly expensive" and has not achieved its main objective
'No evidence' conflicts of interest considered in Greensill contract
29 Oct 2021 Finance
'No evidence' conflicts of interest considered in Greensill contract
NAO report raises "questions over the government’s ability to prevent conflicts of interest", PAC chair says
FCDO told to stop focusing on 'fast results' from climate change aid
26 Oct 2021 Finance
FCDO told to stop focusing on 'fast results' from climate change aid
MPs tell department to listen to local and marginalised communities when handling climate finance
Spending Review: Sunak set to end wage freeze with new public sector pay policy
25 Oct 2021 Finance
Spending Review: Sunak set to end wage freeze with new public sector pay policy
Details of NHS settlement also revealed ahead of Wednesday’s statement
MoJ needs extra £2.2bn to cover cost of Covid recovery, report says
22 Oct 2021 Finance
MoJ needs extra £2.2bn to cover cost of Covid recovery, report says
National Audit Office warns crown court backlogs will continue for “several years”
Use Spending Review to address costly Covid backlogs, chancellor urged
19 Oct 2021 Finance
Use Spending Review to address costly Covid backlogs, chancellor urged
IfG identifies backlogs in five major public services post-pandemic
Army boosts green credentials with first solar farm
06 Oct 2021 Finance
Army boosts green credentials with first solar farm
Huge Defence School of Transport scheme is opening project in £200m renewables drive
Barclay urged to address 'frustratingly slow' progress on pay reform
04 Oct 2021 Finance
Barclay urged to address 'frustratingly slow' progress on pay reform
Prospect trade union calls for a meeting with the new Cabinet Office minister
Gove urged to clarify ‘confused’ levelling-up rhetoric
24 Sep 2021 Finance
Gove urged to clarify ‘confused’ levelling-up rhetoric
Institute for Government warns flagship drive cannot be all things to all people and places
Human error saw DWP underpay more than £1bn in pensions, NAO reveals
22 Sep 2021 Finance
Human error saw DWP underpay more than £1bn in pensions, NAO reveals
"Outdated and unautomated" systems led to errors, review finds
Departments to get compensation for social care levy, but contract costs could rise
15 Sep 2021 Finance
Departments to get compensation for social care levy, but contract costs could rise
Public bodies with directly employed staff will be compensated from a £2bn pot for the 1.25% NICS rise
Sunak sets date for Spending Review – and issues pay warning
07 Sep 2021 Finance
Sunak sets date for Spending Review – and issues pay warning
Three-year settlement for departments and agencies will come alongside Autumn Budget
Economic bounce-back ‘won’t shield departments in Spending Review’
31 Aug 2021 Finance
Economic bounce-back ‘won’t shield departments in Spending Review’
Institute for Government says Sunak will need to find additional funding to protect public services
Employment tribunal decision could cost MoD £1.5m, says union
31 Aug 2021 Finance
Employment tribunal decision could cost MoD £1.5m, says union
Hundreds of former staff at Babcock-owned dockyard could get boosted exit payments after Rosyth case
Departments ‘told to plan for staff cuts’ in Spending Review
12 Aug 2021 Finance
Departments ‘told to plan for staff cuts’ in Spending Review
Treasury eyes reversal of 70,000 increase in civil service headcount since 2016, according to report
Cabinet Office procurement plans ‘could do more harm than good’
30 Jul 2021 Finance
Cabinet Office procurement plans ‘could do more harm than good’
Peers warn prioritisation of competition over collaboration in public service commissioning risks compromising expertise and innovation
Cost estimate for new ‘national flagship’ rises to £250m
29 Jul 2021 Finance
Cost estimate for new ‘national flagship’ rises to £250m
Defence secretary says MoD taskforce will ensure project 'comes in on time and on budget'
Legacy tech: Half of government’s £5bn annual IT spend dedicated to ‘keeping the lights on’
28 Jul 2021 Finance
Legacy tech: Half of government’s £5bn annual IT spend dedicated to ‘keeping the lights on’
Report identifies continued prevalence of ageing tech as one of the major challenges facing the civil service’s digital ambitions
'Financial risk for years to come' as Covid costs hit £372bn, MPs warn
26 Jul 2021 Finance
'Financial risk for years to come' as Covid costs hit £372bn, MPs warn
Some departments cannot provide "robust assessment of their Covid-related activity"
‘Perm secs are remarkably immune from accountability for spending’: Maude calls for stronger functions to boost oversight
23 Jul 2021 Finance
‘Perm secs are remarkably immune from accountability for spending’: Maude calls for stronger functions to boost oversight
Delivering the benefits of spend controls requires "strong and capable central leadership" of functions, ex-minister's review finds
NAO sounds alarm over DWP’s ‘record high’ fraud and error rates
20 Jul 2021 Finance
NAO sounds alarm over DWP’s ‘record high’ fraud and error rates
Watchdog says department accepts pandemic response means overpayments will “remain significantly higher than normal for some time”
End short-term focus to unlock Spending Review efficiencies, Treasury told
14 Jul 2021 Finance
End short-term focus to unlock Spending Review efficiencies, Treasury told
NAO highlights areas where efficiencies have fallen short, including shared services, automation and outsourcing
Fraud and error in Covid support schemes 'will cost taxpayer tens of billions'
30 Jun 2021 Finance
Fraud and error in Covid support schemes 'will cost taxpayer tens of billions'
Departments' efforts to detect fraud 'hindered by a lack of real-time data sharing and weak transparency arrangements', MPs say
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
23 Jun 2021 Finance
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
National Audit Office warns department-level information deficit could impact Cabinet Office’s ability to drive efficiency and reform