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
Remove trading funds from civil service pay remit process, union urges Exclusive
21 Feb 2024 Finance
Remove trading funds from civil service pay remit process, union urges
Prospect also calls for "rapid review" of all ALBs and the case for including them in the pay remit
NAO headcount climbs by 17% over four years as workload grows
20 Feb 2024 Finance
NAO headcount climbs by 17% over four years as workload grows
MPs are told watchdog plans to outsource less work because of rising costs
Stats watchdog rebukes Treasury minister over ‘misleading’ tax-cut claim
20 Feb 2024 Finance
Stats watchdog rebukes Treasury minister over ‘misleading’ tax-cut claim
UKSA chair says comments claiming taxes for average earner have fallen by £1,000 could have misled the public
NI ministers pledge 'fair and just' pay rise for public servants
08 Feb 2024 Finance
NI ministers pledge 'fair and just' pay rise for public servants
Finance minister says negotiations should begin “as soon as possible” amid call for more funds from Westminster government
£4bn funding gap puts councils at ‘tipping point’, MPs warn
01 Feb 2024 Finance
£4bn funding gap puts councils at ‘tipping point’, MPs warn
Committee says well-run authorities are at risk of going bust without extra cash for 2024-25
Rycroft: No change on Rwanda value-for-money judgement until planes take off
31 Jan 2024 Finance
Rycroft: No change on Rwanda value-for-money judgement until planes take off
Answering the value for money question will depend on whether the Home Office sees a "deterrent effect" once flights start, perm sec says
Treasury called to action over worsening Whole of Government Accounts delays
29 Jan 2024 Finance
Treasury called to action over worsening Whole of Government Accounts delays
MPs say late publication and missing figures make £1tn public spending snapshot less and less useful
NI secretary: New legislation will 'help to stabilise finances' as devolution deal deadline expires
22 Jan 2024 Finance
NI secretary: New legislation will 'help to stabilise finances' as devolution deal deadline expires
Chris Heaton-Harris says he will act to "support Northern Ireland departments" to stabilise public services
Major reform needed to curb Treasury's power, IfG report finds
22 Jan 2024 Finance
Major reform needed to curb Treasury's power, IfG report finds
HMT's dominance over the rest of government is resulting in “bad outcomes”, think tank warns
HS2 chief says pared-back rail line could cost £67bn
11 Jan 2024 Finance
HS2 chief says pared-back rail line could cost £67bn
Jon Thompson warns MPs soaring inflation will add up to £10bn to current estimate of £49bn-£56.6bn
ODA spending freeze hits climate commitments and health inequalities work
11 Jan 2024 Finance
ODA spending freeze hits climate commitments and health inequalities work
FDCO perm sec reveals some of the projects affected by aid cuts in letter to MPs
Labour slams 'misleading' Treasury comms on tax changes
08 Jan 2024 Finance
Labour slams 'misleading' Treasury comms on tax changes
Shadow minister urges perm sec to remove social-media posts he says are politically problematic for civil servants
HMRC funding boost to pay for 700 extra debt officers
14 Dec 2023 Finance
HMRC funding boost to pay for 700 extra debt officers
But perm sec Jim Harra tells MPs that not all of the additional staff will be working in-house
Watchdog to probe Rwanda scheme costs – as legal bill tops £2m
14 Dec 2023 Finance
Watchdog to probe Rwanda scheme costs – as legal bill tops £2m
Committee chairs slam "extreme lack of respect" from Home Office in handling of correspondence on costs
‘Productivity is my favourite subject’: HMT’s Cat Little on finding better ways to use people’s time
13 Dec 2023 Finance
‘Productivity is my favourite subject’: HMT’s Cat Little on finding better ways to use people’s time
The head of the government finance function and second permanent secretary to the Treasury looks back at the year, and sets out her running goal for 2024
Stormont leaders offered £2.5bn package in bid to restore power sharing
12 Dec 2023 Finance
Stormont leaders offered £2.5bn package in bid to restore power sharing
Settlement would include lump sum for public sector pay rises and extend the repayment deadline for overspends
Treasury gets departments to meet evaluation commitments without sanctions
05 Dec 2023 Finance
Treasury gets departments to meet evaluation commitments without sanctions
All departments have now met 2021 Spending Review evaluation conditions, after some were given extended deadlines
Departments need ‘significant’ productivity improvements, OBR chair warns
28 Nov 2023 Finance
Departments need ‘significant’ productivity improvements, OBR chair warns
Watchdog “doesn’t know” whether the government’s spending plans are plausible or not
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
28 Nov 2023 Finance
'The chief exec called me his plumber because I fixed things': Reflections on 45 years in the civil service
From humble beginnings as a prisoners' monies clerk to senior posts in the Treasury, Kevin Ross shares his journey through the civil service
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face real-terms cuts of 3.4%, IFS warns
23 Nov 2023 Finance
Autumn Statement: Unprotected departments face real-terms cuts of 3.4%, IFS warns
Think-tank says shrinking capital spending will be problematic for public-sector productivity drive
HMRC gets £163m ‘capacity boost’ in Autumn Statement
23 Nov 2023 Finance
HMRC gets £163m ‘capacity boost’ in Autumn Statement
Treasury says funding will be focused on debt-management capability
OBR: Autumn Statement measures will cause £19bn fall in public spending power
22 Nov 2023 Finance
OBR: Autumn Statement measures will cause £19bn fall in public spending power
Fiscal watchdog warns of growing risk that public spending plans will not be met
Autumn Statement warns of crackdown on external diversity spending
22 Nov 2023 Finance
Autumn Statement warns of crackdown on external diversity spending
"Presumption against external EDI spending" is being considered alongside extra ministerial scrutiny
DLUHC urged to do more to help councils with levelling-up funding delays
20 Nov 2023 Finance
DLUHC urged to do more to help councils with levelling-up funding delays
Less than 10% of £10.6bn in announced funding had been spent as of March, NAO report says