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
Treasury working with departments to build integrated finance system
24 Jun Finance
Treasury working with departments to build integrated finance system
SR25: HMRC gets £1.7bn for big increase in compliance and debt management staff
12 Jun Finance
SR25: HMRC gets £1.7bn for big increase in compliance and debt management staff
‘Radically’ shorter Green Book will support place-based budgeting and transformational change
11 Jun Finance
‘Radically’ shorter Green Book will support place-based budgeting and transformational change
Departments told to shave 2% off admin budgets and stop 'unnecessary' consultancy spend
29 Jul 2024 Finance
Departments told to shave 2% off admin budgets and stop 'unnecessary' consultancy spend
Reeves orders immediate halt to “non-essential” spending on consultants and government comms amid savings push
Reeves commits to spending review every two years
29 Jul 2024 Finance
Reeves commits to spending review every two years
Chancellor announces next spending review date and fiscal-planning reforms
Reeves to announce efficiencies drive and consultancy spend squeeze in major speech
29 Jul 2024 Finance
Reeves to announce efficiencies drive and consultancy spend squeeze in major speech
Chancellor will set out reforms to "put an end to wasteful spending in government" and address £20bn black hole
NAO calls for crackdown on 'poor-quality' procurement frameworks
26 Jul 2024 Finance
NAO calls for crackdown on 'poor-quality' procurement frameworks
Report says Cabinet Office headcount cap has hampered work of Crown Commercial Service
Recruitment begins for Covid corruption tsar
23 Jul 2024 Finance
Recruitment begins for Covid corruption tsar
Commissioner will work with HMRC, NCA and SFO to recover billions lost to Covid fraud
Book review: Neil Lee’s Innovation for the Masses is an ideal book for policymakers
22 Jul 2024 Finance
Book review: Neil Lee’s Innovation for the Masses is an ideal book for policymakers
Can we drive innovation and also build greater equality? This solution-focused guide suggests so
Anti-corruption groups call for more investment in government agencies
16 Jul 2024 Finance
Anti-corruption groups call for more investment in government agencies
UK Anti-Corruption Coalition also urges appointment of anti-corruption champion, a position that has been vacant for 759 days
Starmer launches 'root and branch' defence review
16 Jul 2024 Finance
Starmer launches 'root and branch' defence review
Former New Labour defence secretary George Robertson will lead exercise, which will report in "first half of 2025"
National Wealth Fund to bring together existing bodies
09 Jul 2024 Finance
National Wealth Fund to bring together existing bodies
UK Infrastructure Bank and the British Business Bank to be 'aligned' under investment plan
Home secretary orders audit of Rwanda spending
08 Jul 2024 Finance
Home secretary orders audit of Rwanda spending
Yvette Cooper also launches Border Security Command, a key cog in Labour's plan to tackle illegal crossings
Anger over timing of £300m Northern Ireland mini-budget
02 Jul 2024 Finance
Anger over timing of £300m Northern Ireland mini-budget
NICS head Jayne Brady is asked to explain decision to proceed with announcement days ahead of general election
Scottish civil servants need 'enhanced training' on writing bills, committee says
28 Jun 2024 Finance
Scottish civil servants need 'enhanced training' on writing bills, committee says
Finance and Public Administration Committee criticises government for failing to include full costs of potential laws
IFS: Civil service pay has been ‘held down unbelievably’
25 Jun 2024 Finance
IFS: Civil service pay has been ‘held down unbelievably’
Paul Johnson says pay for officials is just one example of why public service cuts will be so difficult to achieve for next government
Next government 'must examine drivers of disability benefit spending, not rush to restrict'
21 Jun 2024 Finance
Next government 'must examine drivers of disability benefit spending, not rush to restrict'
Resolution Foundation calls for "serious strategy" involving the NHS and employers as well as DWP and the Treasury
Farage floats plans to slash £50bn from departments and cut taxes
18 Jun 2024 Finance
Farage floats plans to slash £50bn from departments and cut taxes
IFS says Reform proposals – which also include eradicating NHS waiting lists – "don't add up"
Labour confirms HMRC funding and border-security command in surprise-free manifesto
13 Jun 2024 Finance
Labour confirms HMRC funding and border-security command in surprise-free manifesto
Document also recommits to scrapping Rwanda scheme and hiring more asylum caseworkers
IFS: Conservative manifesto 'silent' on departmental spending cuts
12 Jun 2024 Finance
IFS: Conservative manifesto 'silent' on departmental spending cuts
Think tank warns the party's plans signal "an even tougher time" for departments
Conservatives double down on disputed tax-rise claims
11 Jun 2024 Finance
Conservatives double down on disputed tax-rise claims
Party chairman flaunts letter from cabinet secretary as union seeks end to "opposition costings"
Government must reduce size of the state or raise taxes, IFS warns
10 Jun 2024 Finance
Government must reduce size of the state or raise taxes, IFS warns
The think tank has urged political parties to set out their plan
Lack of transparency from political parties over planned cuts 'frustrating', top economist says
06 Jun 2024 Finance
Lack of transparency from political parties over planned cuts 'frustrating', top economist says
IFS's Paul Johnson says it is a "pure matter of arithmetic" that unprotected departments will face cuts
Treasury perm sec warned ministers over Tory tax claim
05 Jun 2024 Finance
Treasury perm sec warned ministers over Tory tax claim
James Bowler said ministers should not say a Conservative costing was produced by civil servants
Public sector productivity drive 'unlikely to ease spending pressures', IFS warns
04 Jun 2024 Finance
Public sector productivity drive 'unlikely to ease spending pressures', IFS warns
Institute for Fiscal Studies predicts reduced waiting lists and courts backlogs will come before budget savings
Scottish Government announces 9.3% three-year pay framework
31 May 2024 Finance
Scottish Government announces 9.3% three-year pay framework
Finance minister says the public sector pay policy provides an above-inflation increase
DBT setting up 'emergency response function', perm sec says
15 May 2024 Finance
DBT setting up 'emergency response function', perm sec says
Gareth Davies tells MPs work is part of broader learning from Covid support schemes