Finance

Combined central and local government outsourcing spend highest since early 2012, according to new research

Public Accounts Committee criticises HMRC over customer service, compliance and tackling aggressive tax planning – while HMRC says MPs have "overlooked" its achievements

Report by the National Audit Office spending watchdog finds that charity received £46m of public funding over 15 years

Official who raised value for money concerns over further funding for the charity to face questions from the Public Accounts Committee

Business secretary tells MPs that axing Department for Business, Innovation and Skills would be a "step backwards". But he asks: "Do we need 80 locations?"

Institute for Fiscal Studies gives its assessment ahead of the Spending Review – and warns easier efficiency savings have already been "identified and delivered"

Management consultants looking at "operating costs across the department and partner organisations", says business secretary, but none "working directly" on its response to the Spending Review

Robert Chote – reappointed as chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility watchdog – says he is "relaxed" about Treasury suggesting changes to its independent forecasts

Select committee to question OBR's Robert Chote after e-mails show Treasury seeks changes to wording of draft forecast

Lin Homer tells MPs on the Public Accounts Committee that HMRC's "most basic" jobs will continue to be cut as department reduces number of sites across UK

Chief operating officer at Standard Chartered Bank to succeed David Godfrey as new chief executive of UK Export Finance 

Exclusive: Tax authority says it will aim to "avoid the need for compulsory redundancies" when 90-day process opens next week