'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
'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
Treasury urged to reform cost-control system for civil service pensions
18 Jun 2021 Finance
Treasury urged to reform cost-control system for civil service pensions
Current mechanism was on course for “perverse” recommendation to reduce contributions and increase benefits before it was paused, says government actuary
Treasury blasted for botched public sector pensions reform
11 Jun 2021 Finance
Treasury blasted for botched public sector pensions reform
MPs say £17bn cost of McCloud judgment could be “just a ripple” compared to looming “tsunami”
Treasury plans pandemic-driven update of spending control bible
28 May 2021 Finance
Treasury plans pandemic-driven update of spending control bible
Managing Public Money refresh will add guidance on emergency-related risk and more case studies
Cost of Covid rises to £372bn, National Audit Office finds
18 May 2021 Finance
Cost of Covid rises to £372bn, National Audit Office finds
HMRC has highest pandemic spending level of any government department, according to watchdog
Treasury threatened with court challenge over civil service pensions ‘theft’
04 May 2021 Finance
Treasury threatened with court challenge over civil service pensions ‘theft’
Unions preparing judicial review plans over department’s “diabolical” proposals to pay for McCloud case costs
Independent commission calls for Spending Reviews to be dumped
12 Apr 2021 Finance
Independent commission calls for Spending Reviews to be dumped
Panel also calls for departmental boards to get greater powers to scrutinise top officials’ performance
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
09 Apr 2021 Finance
Treasury publishes Rishi Sunak’s text messages to David Cameron in Greensill lobbying row
Chancellor ‘pushed officials to explore options’ messages reveal, but no support was agreed
PM urged to rule out 40% funding cut at Office for Veterans Affairs
25 Mar 2021 Finance
PM urged to rule out 40% funding cut at Office for Veterans Affairs
Boris Johnson tells MPs no final decision has been made on £2m budget reduction for Cabinet Office unit
Dominic Cummings rails against Treasury for ‘horrific’ impact on science funding
19 Mar 2021 Finance
Dominic Cummings rails against Treasury for ‘horrific’ impact on science funding
Advanced Research and Invention Agency needs “extreme freedom” from civil service bureaucracy, procurement rules, business cases and pay scales says PM’s former chief spad
Public services 'face second dose of austerity' to meet Sunak's spending cuts
18 Mar 2021 Finance
Public services 'face second dose of austerity' to meet Sunak's spending cuts
Chancellor’s spending plans "even tighter than they first appeared”, IFS warns
In the spotlight: Treasury’s public spending chief Cat Little on how Covid changed the finance ministry – and ministerial red boxes
23 Feb 2021 Finance
In the spotlight: Treasury’s public spending chief Cat Little on how Covid changed the finance ministry – and ministerial red boxes
After an extraordinary year, Cat Little reflects on how the Treasury and government finance function met the pressures of a pandemic with innovation
HMRC offers £100k for new Fraud Investigation Service post
10 Feb 2021 Finance
HMRC offers £100k for new Fraud Investigation Service post
Head of operations will oversee modernisation of capabilities to tackle serious fraud
Ministers confirm fix for unlawful Civil Service Pension Scheme discrimination
05 Feb 2021 Finance
Ministers confirm fix for unlawful Civil Service Pension Scheme discrimination
Unions welcome decision to give scheme members deferred-choice option but seek action on reduced contributions
DfE 'unconcerned' about free school meal voucher scheme profit
05 Feb 2021 Finance
DfE 'unconcerned' about free school meal voucher scheme profit
Department did not ask to see voucher provider Edenred's books or renegotiate contract
Northern Ireland crackdown on special advisers set to become law
03 Feb 2021 Finance
Northern Ireland crackdown on special advisers set to become law
Executive Office spad numbers will be cut to six, salaries capped at £90k and advisers subject to the same disciplinary rules as civil servants
Ministerial directions shot up amid pandemic, analysis finds
28 Jan 2021 Finance
Ministerial directions shot up amid pandemic, analysis finds
Think tank warns threefold increase in decisions to overrule officials' advice on spending must still be properly scrutinised
Raab confirms aid cut and pledges a 'more integrated approach' to ODA
27 Jan 2021 Finance
Raab confirms aid cut and pledges a 'more integrated approach' to ODA
Departmental split will ensure aid "has greater coherence and delivers most value for money", foreign secretary claims
22 Jan 2021 Finance
WATCH: Planning for the year ahead: What you need to know now for the 2021 Spending Review
After the government implemented a one-year spending review due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Treasury and departments are already turning their sights to a full three-year review in 2021. This webinar with Oracle examines how the government will be making major spending decisions.