Finance

NAO report says lower take up of free early years places in most deprived areas “risks increasing development gap”

Analysis of public spending figures indicates that much of announced spending increases will be taken up by existing policy plans

Civil service union claims victory as Sunak finds £2bn to tone down ‘tax trap’ that counts pension contributions as income

Move to be confirmed later today after PM chairs COBRA meeting

Treasury sets out areas of focus for review and pledges to lead the world in linking cash to outcomes

Budget will also set out details of measures to tackle coronavirus outbreak

New ‘economic campus’ will be one of three new offices announced in the Budget, says chancellor

Watchdog MPs urged to quiz departments they monitor on long-term funding pressures ahead of expected multi-year settlements

Think-tank’s pre-Budget call says setting £6bn in tax credit overpayments aside would make continued roll-out work better

Jim Harra ‘strongly rejects’ criticism from Ed Davey’s APPG on the controversial Loan Charge

Body offers £149,500 a year for official to oversee work on HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and nuclear projects

IFS sets out Budget bind in analysis of public finances ahead of 11 March statement

Department chief will oversee a "growing portfolio of financial investments in housing and infrastructure delivery", according to job advert

Big numbers for capital spending in next month’s budget won’t fix decade of austerity, think-tank warns

NAO says department ‘faces delivery and coordination challenges’ when it relies on others deliver public services

Applicants given an additional month to apply to head finance watchdog

Professionals’ union Prospect wades into row over government’s failure to reduce contribution rates following valuations ‘pause’

Cabinet secretary says greater use of automation will allow for better rates 

High Court move will challenge government’s failure to reduce contributions following firefighters' ruling

Report blasts "incomplete and inaccurate" understanding of conditions and flags £916m backlog of major repairs

Mark Thurston leads ranking for second year running as John Manzoni and Mark Sedwill well down list

Appointment will replace Robert Chote, who has led fiscal watchdog since 2010

Watchdog says keenness to proceed with Liverpool project led to deal being struck before construction failings were known

Overhaul would mean tax taper would "rightly affect high earners such as bankers", not doctors, air traffic controllers and fire officials, union says