Truss ‘pushes back’ on FCDO job cut demands
09 Jun Policy

Truss ‘pushes back’ on FCDO job cut demands

Foreign secretary rejects 5% headcount-reduction and seeks extra staff
by Jim Dunton
MPs demand answers on ‘unlawful’ DWP benefits guidance
27 Jun Policy
MPs demand answers on ‘unlawful’ DWP benefits guidance
Public spending watchdog names eight ‘departments of concern’
26 May Policy
Public spending watchdog names eight ‘departments of concern’
BEIS 'offered open goal to fraudsters’ with Covid loan schemes
19 May Policy
BEIS 'offered open goal to fraudsters’ with Covid loan schemes
Queen’s Speech: Government pledges to ‘grow and strengthen economy’ amid cost-of-living crisis
10 May Policy
Queen’s Speech: Government pledges to ‘grow and strengthen economy’ amid cost-of-living crisis
Speech includes no new measures despite saying ministers understand "how the rising cost of living is making life harder for people"
Ex-civil service head questions plans for large-scale staff cuts
03 May Policy
Ex-civil service head questions plans for large-scale staff cuts
Lord Kerslake says huge challenges require “right-sized” workforce as former civil service chief exec Manzoni issues caution over skills gaps
Rees-Mogg sets out guidance for new ‘bonfire of the quangos’
27 Apr Policy
Rees-Mogg sets out guidance for new ‘bonfire of the quangos’
Teams asked to identify minimum of 5% savings as PM eyes potential for outsourcing ALB functions
Rwanda asylum scheme will boost Home Office staff wellbeing, Patel says
19 Apr Policy
Rwanda asylum scheme will boost Home Office staff wellbeing, Patel says
But perm sec says value for money of controversial asylum-seeker plans is “highly uncertain”
PM sets out plans to treble nuclear power generation by 2050
08 Apr Policy
PM sets out plans to treble nuclear power generation by 2050
British energy security strategy dubbed “missed opportunity” by select committee chair
Shapps announces crackdown on ferry firms to combat ‘outrageous’ P&O sackings
31 Mar Policy
Shapps announces crackdown on ferry firms to combat ‘outrageous’ P&O sackings
HMRC will target resources at companies’ minimum-wage compliance and Insolvency Service will explore Hebblethwaite ban
Home Office unlawfully seized 2,000 asylum seekers' phones, court rules
29 Mar Policy
Home Office unlawfully seized 2,000 asylum seekers' phones, court rules
Almost 2,000 mobile phones were seized by the department under a blanket policy which the court ruled was unlawful and broke human rights
Ex-perm sec tells Grenfell Inquiry of ‘deep regret’ that DCLG ‘didn’t see’ its oversight role
17 Mar Policy
Ex-perm sec tells Grenfell Inquiry of ‘deep regret’ that DCLG ‘didn’t see’ its oversight role
Melanie Dawes warns other departments may have their own regulatory catastrophe hidden under the radar
British Business Bank chiefs question ex-minister’s claims on Covid loan fraud data
16 Mar Policy
British Business Bank chiefs question ex-minister’s claims on Covid loan fraud data
Barclays boss tells MPs that HMRC could have given more anti-fraud help
'There is something wrong with the way Whitehall does policy': Ex-DfE perm sec blasts ‘reality disconnect’
08 Mar Policy
'There is something wrong with the way Whitehall does policy': Ex-DfE perm sec blasts ‘reality disconnect’
Jonathan Slater says policymakers should have frontline delivery experience and be rewarded for results on the ground
Government can achieve levelling up agenda without new cash, perm sec says
02 Mar Policy
Government can achieve levelling up agenda without new cash, perm sec says
Andy Haldane says government can instead “tilt” existing budgets “in the direction of poorer areas”
Overhauled No.10 operation 'flunked first test' amid confusion over Covid policy
23 Feb Policy
Overhauled No.10 operation 'flunked first test' amid confusion over Covid policy
Criticism comes after a row between the Treasury and DHSC over ending Covid restrictions forced the PM to delay a meeting to sign off the plans
Steve Barclay has promised a 'smaller state' – but what does that mean?
17 Feb Policy
Steve Barclay has promised a 'smaller state' – but what does that mean?
Colin Talbot explores the pros and cons of different approaches to measuring the size of government
Civil servant warned of ‘major fire’ risk three years before Grenfell
10 Feb Policy
Civil servant warned of ‘major fire’ risk three years before Grenfell
Inquiry hears DCLG safety lead expressed fears to construction-product firms
Government isn’t ‘getting the best’ out of the civil service, Tory grandee says
09 Feb Policy
Government isn’t ‘getting the best’ out of the civil service, Tory grandee says
Levelling-up agenda will require concerted action to mobilise departments, says former Wales secretary John Redwood
Net zero's hard yards are ahead
09 Feb Policy
Net zero's hard yards are ahead
As Cop26 fades into the distance, ministers still have a mountain to climb to deliver their climate ambitions
Learning from moonshots: what a mission-oriented approach to policymaking really looks like
02 Feb Policy
Learning from moonshots: what a mission-oriented approach to policymaking really looks like
From industrial strategies and booster campaigns to levelling up, government announcements are full of "missions" at the moment. Theo Curtis, an economist at the business department, digs behind the buzz
Read the January 2022 issue of Civil Service World
24 Jan Policy
Read the January 2022 issue of Civil Service World
Featuring exclusive interviews with HMRC's second perm sec and Cop26's chief operating officer
Places with high homelessness rates not receiving enough levelling up funding, think tank warns
14 Jan Policy
Places with high homelessness rates not receiving enough levelling up funding, think tank warns
Fund places too much emphasis on physical infrastructure and too little on social issues, report argues
Home Office appoints panel to advise on 'scientific' ways to verify age of asylum seekers
07 Jan Policy
Home Office appoints panel to advise on 'scientific' ways to verify age of asylum seekers
Ethical concerns have been raised over the plans for medical age assessment
‘This is my job’: Whitty says he is not ‘treading on ministers’ toes’ by advising public to cut down on festive socialising
16 Dec 2021 Policy
‘This is my job’: Whitty says he is not ‘treading on ministers’ toes’ by advising public to cut down on festive socialising
Chief medic also says "only people who have no understanding of health" believe Covid is being over-prioritised by medical professionals
MPs pick new Home Affairs Committee chair
16 Dec 2021 Policy
MPs pick new Home Affairs Committee chair
Diana Johnson wins vote to replace Yvette Cooper on influential scrutiny panel
‘Instability is a future staple’: thinking through the policy challenges of the 21st century
06 Dec 2021 Policy
‘Instability is a future staple’: thinking through the policy challenges of the 21st century
Civil servants will need to get used to increased volatility in a world of unprecedented challenges. The resilience of the state has never been more vital, says Matthew Bell
Social care plan 'three steps forward and two steps back'
02 Dec 2021 Policy
Social care plan 'three steps forward and two steps back'
Spending a disappointment given scale of crisis in sector, says former minister Jeremy Hunt