Operational Delivery

Prime minister applauds Grenfell Tower and terror responses, but calls on Whitehall staff to “be bold” in facing future challenges

Some closure-threatened Jobcentres win reprieve in estates reorganisation, but new sites are earmarked to shut

Study finds Whitehall is the world’s most effective civil service for generating policy, but falls down ranking in areas like financial management and digital services

New group will help “put in place the foundations” for recovery, says communities secretary

Institute for Government says High Speed 1 rail link and Thames Tideway tunnel are among projects where government may have made the wrong investment decision

First secretary of state says government "can’t park the domestic agenda" amid Brexit negotiations

Transport secretary Chris Grayling insists services are improving and some recommendations are already being implemented

Lidington pledges to continue reform programme, but Labour criticise lack of legislation the Queen’s Speech

Queen’s Birthday Honours list also includes knighthood for UN under-secretary general Stephen O’Brien

Small increase in Whitehall headcount reported by ONS, but employment remains almost 150,000 posts below peak set before spending cuts

New minister responsible for civil service has praise for officials but also complains about 'ropey' delivery 

MPs and centre users back call to save one of 78 threatened offices

Senior civil service has biggest range of average salaries of any grade across Whitehall, with Treasury chiefs paid least

Commission calls on civil service to scrutinise EU regulations relating to public services to plan reforms ahead of exit

Conservationists voice fears over proposals to remodel listed city office block

Veteran negotiator Jonathan Powell lauds civil service’s post-referendum progress but cautions on remaining skills gaps

The Institute for Government says budget projections must not provide “cover for misleading intentions”

New combined authority chiefs could improve services and boost local economies if offered new menu of powers, says think tank

Institute for Government report says free movement could stay for several years because new system won’t be ready

Institute for Government report draws lessons from global take-up of Blair-era innovation

Wash-up period sees government compromise to rush crucial tax legislation through House of Commons

Public Accounts Committee report on outsourced tax credits debacle says agency lacked the commercial capacity for the payment-by-results deal

Changes to be judged on how funding can promote sustainability of services and reduce worklessness

Rise in spending through aid outsourcing has turned DfID into a commissioning department, say MPs