Why is it so hard to sell an idea to government (even one that could make millions for the public purse)?
04 Apr Operational Delivery

Why is it so hard to sell an idea to government (even one that could make millions for the public purse)?

To an outsider, reaching the right civil servants with an idea that could revolutionise services or save money seems impossible
by Jon McKnight
SR25: MoJ gets funding injection for new prison places and probation services
12 Jun Operational Delivery
SR25: MoJ gets funding injection for new prison places and probation services
MoJ sets up new probation and reoffending directorate
02 Jun Operational Delivery
MoJ sets up new probation and reoffending directorate
HMRC labelled 'lumbering dinosaur' and urged to modernise systems
30 Apr Operational Delivery
HMRC labelled 'lumbering dinosaur' and urged to modernise systems
From the archives: Peter Unwin on reaching the Kyoto climate change agreement, the problem with super-departments and how best to reform government
02 Jun Operational Delivery
From the archives: Peter Unwin on reaching the Kyoto climate change agreement, the problem with super-departments and how best to reform government

The outgoing chief executive of The Whitehall & Industry Group – and a former senior civil servant in several departments – sits down with Suzannah Brecknell to discuss international negotiations, super departments, and the perils of hierarchies
DWP’s work-coach shortage hits support for jobseekers
31 Mar Operational Delivery
DWP’s work-coach shortage hits support for jobseekers
National Audit Office says department should assess the impact of shortfall on current proposals for a new jobs and careers service
Spring Statement: HMRC gets £180m to help close tax gap
26 Mar Operational Delivery
Spring Statement: HMRC gets £180m to help close tax gap
Funding includes £100m to hire 500 additional compliance officers from next month
Spring Statement: DWP gets £400m to implement welfare cuts
26 Mar Operational Delivery
Spring Statement: DWP gets £400m to implement welfare cuts
Rachel Reeves confirms costing of reforms that will cut benefits including PIP and Universal Credit
DHSC set to launch voluntary-exit scheme as PM abolishes NHS England
13 Mar Operational Delivery
DHSC set to launch voluntary-exit scheme as PM abolishes NHS England
Acting perm sec Whitty outlines plans to cut staff as Starmer says NHS management will be brought "back into democratic control"
'We don't want a bigger state': Starmer outlines plans to cut civil service costs
13 Mar Operational Delivery
'We don't want a bigger state': Starmer outlines plans to cut civil service costs
PM says AI is a "golden opportunity" and says he will take on "vast arrays of quangos"
New DHSC delivery unit to 'bring a laser-like focus on reform'
07 Mar Operational Delivery
New DHSC delivery unit to 'bring a laser-like focus on reform'
Unit will "need access to expertise on delivering strategic and cultural change and policy development and delivery"
HMRC set to deliver £700m in efficiency savings this year
06 Mar Operational Delivery
HMRC set to deliver £700m in efficiency savings this year
In final PAC appearance, Jim Harra says customer services is "big area" where more efficiency savings can be found
MoJ not doing enough to tackle crown court backlogs, MPs say
05 Mar Operational Delivery
MoJ not doing enough to tackle crown court backlogs, MPs say
PAC report is a "terrible indictment of our criminal justice system", chair says
The latest aid row raises a fundamental challenge for civil servants
04 Mar Operational Delivery
The latest aid row raises a fundamental challenge for civil servants
Civil servants must be able to separate differences of opinion from ethical challenges
HMRC takes action on complaints after spike in referrals to adjudicator
19 Feb Operational Delivery
HMRC takes action on complaints after spike in referrals to adjudicator
Tax agency says it has improved its performance after implementing recommendations from the Adjudicator's Office
‘Incoherent approach’ to sentencing blamed for prisons crisis
18 Feb Operational Delivery
‘Incoherent approach’ to sentencing blamed for prisons crisis
Gauke review says “knee-jerk response” of locking criminals up for longer without evidence of any benefit is a major factor
HMRC urged to deliver productivity boost on tax collection
10 Feb Operational Delivery
HMRC urged to deliver productivity boost on tax collection
Drive to recruit 5,000 extra compliance staff should be accompanied by performance rates returning to pre-pandemic levels, NAO says
Treasury sets out scope of new loan charge review
28 Jan Operational Delivery
Treasury sets out scope of new loan charge review
Terms of reference for second review of HMRC's loan charge scheme published
‘Let’s make Whitehall more like a start-up’: Pat McFadden unveils civil service reform plan
09 Dec 2024 Operational Delivery
‘Let’s make Whitehall more like a start-up’: Pat McFadden unveils civil service reform plan
Government to deploy ‘test-and-learn’ teams and simplify recruitment processes
DBS staff fix strike dates in customer-contact dispute
27 Nov 2024 Operational Delivery
DBS staff fix strike dates in customer-contact dispute
Officials will stage two-day walkout as part of wider industrial action in run-up to Christmas
Winter fuel payment cut will push 50,000 pensioners into poverty, DWP admits
20 Nov 2024 Operational Delivery
Winter fuel payment cut will push 50,000 pensioners into poverty, DWP admits
Kendall meanwhile snubs call for "more detailed assessment" of poverty impacts, including on different protected groups
Covid Inquiry: Treasury and No.10 blocked NHS request for 10,000 extra beds
12 Nov 2024 Operational Delivery
Covid Inquiry: Treasury and No.10 blocked NHS request for 10,000 extra beds
NHS chief exec defends decisions on Nightingale Hospitals, which cost £358m but were largely unused
Public services facing financial uncertainty despite Budget spending boost – IfG
12 Nov 2024 Operational Delivery
Public services facing financial uncertainty despite Budget spending boost – IfG
It is “unlikely” that public services will see a notable improvement in performance next year, think tank warns
Digital identity watchdog launches in DSIT
31 Oct 2024 Operational Delivery
Digital identity watchdog launches in DSIT
Office for Digital Identities and Attributes opens formally two years after interim body launched in DCMS
DWP and HMRC get Budget boost for more counter-fraud and tax-debt staff
31 Oct 2024 Operational Delivery
DWP and HMRC get Budget boost for more counter-fraud and tax-debt staff
£110m will fund fraud-and-error hiring drives in both departments, while HMRC also gets £262m for debt-management staff
Reinstate outcome delivery plans to improve spending decisions, NAO says
28 Oct 2024 Operational Delivery
Reinstate outcome delivery plans to improve spending decisions, NAO says
Spending watchdog calls for changes to “incentives and behaviours” around planning and spending ahead of SR2025
HMRC launches rapid response apprenticeship hiring spree
21 Oct 2024 Operational Delivery
HMRC launches rapid response apprenticeship hiring spree
Surge and rapid response team offers 142 apprenticeships to "enthusiastic" team players
Special delivery: How has government’s approach to implementation evolved?
17 Oct 2024 Operational Delivery
Special delivery: How has government’s approach to implementation evolved?
As CSW was launched in 2004, Tony Blair’s Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit was hitting its stride. Jim Dunton looks at how the centre of government’s approach to implementation has evolved