Legal

Former head of the civil service says "public will draw their own conclusions" about any attempt to curb the transparency law

In the latest Ministry of Justice U-turn, the justice secretary reverses another of his predecessor Chris Grayling's policies

Gardner will be the first woman to take on the role overseeing government legislation

Economic Affairs Committee warns that Scotland Bill is progressing with “undue haste''

Information Commissioner's Office tells the Burns review of Freedom of Information that charges – backed by officials in a recent CSW survey – would have a "deterrent effect" and could create more work for departments

Decentralisation will not be a "panacea" for improved public services, think tank warns

Police and Crime Commissioners write to ministers over new funding formula – but Home Office says changes will improve "complex, opaque and out of date" system

Special report: Extensive cross-government survey finds broad range of views on the FOI act – with calls for more central support in dealing with requests and just over 50% of officials in favour of introducing charges

Senior Tory backbencher joins former Treasury solicitor Sir Paul Jenkins in questioning removal of reference to international law

Analysis: What does the tax credits defeat in the House of Lords mean for the government's legislative programme – and are civil servants ready for the fallout?

Ministers vow to "sort out the relationship between the Commons and the Lords" after government forced into tax credits rethink

Labour asks the NAO to look into Just Solutions International