Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking
17 Jul Finance

Jeremy Hunt: I had to earn civil servants’ trust after Tom Scholar sacking

Jeremy Hunt also speaks about the advice he gave to Wes Streeting and why he's not a fan of "mission-driven" government
by Tevye Markson
NAO: Simple cost-cutting won’t cut it – departments must develop more detailed understanding of costs
12 Sep Finance
NAO: Simple cost-cutting won’t cut it – departments must develop more detailed understanding of costs
Reeves announces late-November Autumn Budget
03 Sep Finance
Reeves announces late-November Autumn Budget
Spending Review 2025 recap: Here's everything you need to know
04 Aug Finance
Spending Review 2025 recap: Here's everything you need to know
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
Departments urged to ensure data programmes are backed in next spending review
15 Nov 2023 Finance
Departments urged to ensure data programmes are backed in next spending review
ONS data chief flags up importance of building support for initiatives into funding bids
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
14 Nov 2023 Finance
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
Perm sec-level officials should lead push to streamline and strengthen digital, HR, commercial and other functions, review finds
Northern Ireland heading for £1bn overspend
10 Nov 2023 Finance
Northern Ireland heading for £1bn overspend
'Fair' public sector pay awards set to add £590m to overspend, Department of Finance perm sec says
Science adviser sounded alarm over Treasury modelling, Covid Inquiry told
07 Nov 2023 Finance
Science adviser sounded alarm over Treasury modelling, Covid Inquiry told
Former economic adviser insists Treasury was not "tactical" about its economic analysis but "shared freely"
Sinking companies: how should government navigate troubled waters?
07 Nov 2023 Finance
Sinking companies: how should government navigate troubled waters?
Intervening in distressed companies can be complex, costly and require skills not widely held across government. The National Audit Office's new report and guide aim to help government maximise its resilience against the risks of company failure and be better prepared when confronted with these situations
Departments facing 16% real-terms budget cuts, think tank predicts
06 Nov 2023 Finance
Departments facing 16% real-terms budget cuts, think tank predicts
Such a big five-year drop in spending "looks completely undeliverable", Resolution Foundation research director says
DWP 'too slow to fix mistakes' as it pays out £74m in disability-benefit arrears
01 Nov 2023 Finance
DWP 'too slow to fix mistakes' as it pays out £74m in disability-benefit arrears
Department has reviewed just under a quarter of cases affected by a court judgment since 2021
A stronger civil service head and more ministerial appointments: Maude shares highlights of his review
27 Oct 2023 Finance
A stronger civil service head and more ministerial appointments: Maude shares highlights of his review
Francis Maude says his civil service governance review will also recommend splitting the Treasury
Insolvency Service ‘£8m out of pocket’ over Carillion proceedings
26 Oct 2023 Finance
Insolvency Service ‘£8m out of pocket’ over Carillion proceedings
Disqualification case against former non-execs of failed outsourcer was dropped this month
Fast Stream hits 50% STEM grads recruitment target
26 Oct 2023 Finance
Fast Stream hits 50% STEM grads recruitment target
Jeremy Quin says target is part of plan to "put innovation at the very core of policy making"
NAO flags ‘weaknesses’ in £7.8bn Cabinet Office savings figures
25 Oct 2023 Finance
NAO flags ‘weaknesses’ in £7.8bn Cabinet Office savings figures
Public-spending watchdog says some efficiencies attributed to the work of functions could be “overstated”
Efficiency is a moral imperative – but there are few incentives in Whitehall to really do more for less
20 Oct 2023 Finance
Efficiency is a moral imperative – but there are few incentives in Whitehall to really do more for less
Every pound that is wasted is a pound that could have been used to improve people’s lives, but little is done to recognise those who identify specific risks to spending, or operational bottlenecks to greater efficiency