Government Tax Profession

Workforce shrinks by 8,000 posts – with GovCos and privatisations accounting for much of the change

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

Simon McDonald tells MPs it would be "illogical to focus fire on the FCO" in November's Spending Review

Former attorney general – and recent critic of government's human rights plans – elected to lead the Intelligence and Security Committee

When members of the public want to complain about government bodies, it falls to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to investigate. Sarah Aston speaks to the watchdog's newly-appointed non-executive directors Julia Tabreham and Ruth Sawtell about efforts to simplify the system, and change the perception that complaining doesn't make a difference

PCS and Prospect members at the Natural Environment Research Council take half-day action over 1% cap and progression pay move

Lord Macdonald tells File on 4 that policy and legal advice functions will “suffer” amid squeeze on resources – but current director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders praises "dedicated" staff

Trade Union Bill easily clears latest hurdle in the Commons, as TUC warns of impact on “productivity, pay and demand”

Labour's new leader promotes Lucy Powell to shadow education

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

Speed of MoJ's responses to Freedom of Information requests comes under scrutiny from the Information Commissioner's Office

The official view: Clare Short spent six years as Tony Blair's international development secretary. Here she tells us about motivating officials, how her private secretary snuck her into a global trade conference, and why the civil service must pay "fair wages" to its staff

PM highlights achievements of Whitehall's digital team as he argues government has "moral imperative" to "streamline" public services

Number 10 stands by decision not to suspend the Northern Ireland Executive following resignation of NI first minister Peter Robinson

Royal United Services Institute says protection of Ministry of Defence budget alone may not be enough to safeguard against wider threats

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

Culture secretary tells MPs budget cuts will lead to “difficult decisions” for DCMS but department not in “any danger” of disappearing 

Crown Commercial Service promises to boost role of smaller firms as provision of travel and conference booking for officials is split into four contracts

Current deputy director for innovation at the Intellectual Property Office, Ceri Witchard, to oversee community interest companies

More than 30 Tories side against government to defeat change to rules on use of official resources in run-up to the European Union vote

DfE perm sec tells MPs on the Public Accounts committee that Care Leavers Strategy – sharply criticised by the spending watchdog – marks "very important step" in improving support for young people leaving care system

Northern Ireland's first minister Peter Robinson announces suspension of Stormont meetings amid row over power-sharing

Health data programme still awaiting sign-off from watchdog

Tory MPs could rebel after government offers concessions on EU referendum vote "purdah" period