Government Tax Profession

Union calls for independent review of pay as it warns that maintaining a 1% cap on pay rises is “unsustainable”

Continuing pay cap would mean up to 20% drop in average civil service earnings by 2020, union analysis reveals

After decades of reviews aimed at driving down the civil service's running costs, Sir Michael Barber, former chief of Blair's delivery unit, is hailed by one Whitehall-watcher as "much less celebrity and much more focused on getting the job done"

Chancellor will not use improved growth forecasts to borrow more money, it is reported

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

Internal appointments come ahead of expansion of the public spending watchdog’s remit

Public Accounts Committee says accountability system for major electrification programme was too complex, and casts doubt on cost estimates even after £1.2bn increase

New Institute for Government report highlights key frictions between political leaders and Whitehall, including poor drafting and a lack of understanding of parliament

GDS announces rollout of GOV.UK Notify, which aims to save departments money and and speed up services by offering people instant access to documents and information

Foreign Affairs Committee says UK should stick to its guns on Russia sanctions – but warns that decline in expertise at the FCO "must be reversed"

Three former heads of the civil service – Lords Kerslake, O'Donnell and Turnbull – among those calling for assurances that EU citizens can remain in Britain after Brexit

Wide-ranging plan includes announcement of new "Digital Government Partnership" to encourage innovation in Whitehall – as Labour's Louise Haigh blasts "recycled announcements and meagre commitments"

Public Chairs Forum, Association of Chief Executives and the Institute for Government will track progress on the Cabinet Office's bid to improve relationships between departments and ALBs

PCS union points out that staffing costs make up a big chunk of departmental spending, and called on Philip Hammond to ditch George Osborne's extra cuts

Civil service's head of executive recruitment tells CSW that new online recruitment tool – Applied – will focus on increasing diversity and speeding up the sifting process

IfG and CIPFA data reveals growing pressure on key public services, as the Treasury asks departments to crack on with pre-announced £3.5bn in efficiency savings by 2019/20

Liam Fox's staff start work in offices formerly occupied by DECC – and 007

Home Office perm sec on the move, with DfT chief Philip Rutnam taking the reins at Marsham Street

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

Chief people officer Rupert McNeil (pictured) says current recruitment technology is “40 or 50 years out of date”

Civil service chief John Manzoni says good relationships between departments and their agencies are built on "trust, clarity of accountability" and a "shared understanding of purpose and outcomes"

Tory former Cabinet Office heavyweight heaps praise on staff at the centre of government – but hits out at civil service churn, the quality of advice, and the skills valued in line departments

House of Lords committee puts HMRC officials through their paces