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
All the changes Rishi Sunak is making to net-zero pledges
21 Sep 2023 Finance
All the changes Rishi Sunak is making to net-zero pledges
From pushing back the new petrol car ban to increasing funds for heat pumps, here is Sunak's new approach to net zero
Anger as Sunak pushes back net-zero milestones
21 Sep 2023 Finance
Anger as Sunak pushes back net-zero milestones
But committee chair welcomes PM’s pledge of “greater scrutiny” for departmental policy work
NI perm secs told to begin consultation on cash-raising measures
21 Sep 2023 Finance
NI perm secs told to begin consultation on cash-raising measures
Move follows secretary of state’s imposition of £14.2bn budget amid Stormont power vacuum
Cabinet Office chastised over decision to pay Boris Johnson's Partygate legal bill
20 Sep 2023 Finance
Cabinet Office chastised over decision to pay Boris Johnson's Partygate legal bill
The department's reasoning was "not wholly persuasive", NAO says as it criticises decision-making proces
NI civil servants to strike again over failure to address pay dispute
14 Sep 2023 Finance
NI civil servants to strike again over failure to address pay dispute
Civil servants are "victims of the secretary of state’s sanctions budget", NIPSA union says
Staffing and IT woes hampering MoD’s inventory issues, watchdog warns
14 Sep 2023 Finance
Staffing and IT woes hampering MoD’s inventory issues, watchdog warns
NAO says 20% of the department’s centrally held stockpile is either unserviceable or past its use-by date
DHSC lacked economic advice to support Covid response, ex-minister says
06 Sep 2023 Finance
DHSC lacked economic advice to support Covid response, ex-minister says
Bethell also criticised No.10’s "odd" approach to managing the pandemic, and argued that government should be like Transformers
DBT told to detail cost of recovering Covid-loan fraud losses
06 Sep 2023 Finance
DBT told to detail cost of recovering Covid-loan fraud losses
MPs say just 1.9% of £1.1bn wrongly lent to small business has been recovered
'We expect them to run a multibillion-pound department with no training’: Ministers' budget-management woes
05 Sep 2023 Finance
'We expect them to run a multibillion-pound department with no training’: Ministers' budget-management woes
A former cabinet minister calls for financial training for incoming ministers
Sunak cut school rebuilding despite ‘critical risk to life’ warnings, ex-perm sec says
04 Sep 2023 Finance
Sunak cut school rebuilding despite ‘critical risk to life’ warnings, ex-perm sec says
Treasury halved programme to remedy crumbling concrete, Slater says as dozens close over safety concerns
Treasury publishes new efficiency guidance for civil servants
31 Jul 2023 Finance
Treasury publishes new efficiency guidance for civil servants
Institute for Government praises “more sophisticated approach”
NAO details lessons from government procurement failings
19 Jul 2023 Finance
NAO details lessons from government procurement failings
New report calls on departments to engage with suppliers more effectively, and follow guidance more consistently
Treasury reaffirms commitment to 'golden goodbyes' crackdown after £182m paid out in a year
20 Jun 2023 Finance
Treasury reaffirms commitment to 'golden goodbyes' crackdown after £182m paid out in a year
Redundancy bill includes payments of £100,000 to 389 departing civil servants and ALB staff
Bridging the gap: bringing local evidence to national policy
19 Jun 2023 Finance
Bridging the gap: bringing local evidence to national policy
Urgency to address regional disparities is clear and urgent shouldn’t mean we invest in untested, ideas, policies or businesses without evidence or strategy
From investment zones to the Levelling Up Fund: How government is going for growth
19 Jun 2023 Finance
From investment zones to the Levelling Up Fund: How government is going for growth
The government’s latest plans for building economic prosperity across the country include investment zones and Levelling Up Partnerships, with “trailblazer deals” and additional regeneration cash thrown in for good measure. We help you navigate the details
NI perm secs told to find revenue-raising measures amid budget funding shortfall
15 Jun 2023 Finance
NI perm secs told to find revenue-raising measures amid budget funding shortfall
Prescription and home-care charges on the table alongside higher tuition fees, Chris Heaton-Harris says
Covid and strikes to blame for drop in government fraud prosecutions, Chisholm says
13 Jun 2023 Finance
Covid and strikes to blame for drop in government fraud prosecutions, Chisholm says
Figures show marked falls in conviction rates for fraud cases referred by HMRC and DWP
Hunt announces ‘most ambitious public sector productivity review ever’
13 Jun 2023 Finance
Hunt announces ‘most ambitious public sector productivity review ever’
Treasury will be an "enabler of reform" as ministers follow path to growth trodden by Thatcher, chancellor says
'Here to stay' – the rising prominence of social value in public procurement
09 Jun 2023 Finance
'Here to stay' – the rising prominence of social value in public procurement
Billed as the holy grail that can save public money as well as improving outcomes, social value has been a formal part of public sector procurement for a decade, but what do new procurement rules mean for its future?
EXCL: Efficiency review finds higher savings target ‘not realistic’ as inflation bites
06 Jun 2023 Finance
EXCL: Efficiency review finds higher savings target ‘not realistic’ as inflation bites
Alex Chisholm says he is “confident” departments will meet 5% target, despite inflation pressures and demands from new government
'Pathetic': MPs slam Treasury's response to aid spending concerns
22 May 2023 Finance
'Pathetic': MPs slam Treasury's response to aid spending concerns
Government rejected committee's call for ODA to be ringfenced for overseas development
Treasury confirms Civil Service Pension Scheme reform plan
17 May 2023 Finance
Treasury confirms Civil Service Pension Scheme reform plan
Reformed scheme will not have to cover costs for legacy schemes, policy statement says
Recovering £1.1bn in Covid debts will be ‘incredibly hard’, DBT perm sec admits
11 May 2023 Finance
Recovering £1.1bn in Covid debts will be ‘incredibly hard’, DBT perm sec admits
“Loosey-goosey” approach to first wave of business grants created a major obstacle to getting cash back, Davies tells MPs
DfE minister admits ‘challenge’ of Spring Budget childcare offer
09 May 2023 Finance
DfE minister admits ‘challenge’ of Spring Budget childcare offer
Expansion of 30-hours-a-week entitlement requires renaissance in recruitment, Claire Coutinho tells MPs