HS2 reset: Lovegrove report unpacks lessons for civil service
20 May Finance

HS2 reset: Lovegrove report unpacks lessons for civil service

Recommendations include more realistic salaries for officials working on major projects and a culture shift away from “automatically” appointing career civil servant as SRO
by Jim Dunton
NAO lauds Government Finance Function for ‘strong foundations’ with 2030 strategy
19 Jun Finance
NAO lauds Government Finance Function for ‘strong foundations’ with 2030 strategy
NAO refuses to sign off Whole of Government Accounts for third year running
18 Jun Finance
NAO refuses to sign off Whole of Government Accounts for third year running
Treasury dubs size of Northern Ireland’s public sector ‘a significant budgetary challenge’
03 Jun Finance
Treasury dubs size of Northern Ireland’s public sector ‘a significant budgetary challenge’
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