Experts voice fears as Ethics and Integrity Commission goes live
14 Oct Policy

Experts voice fears as Ethics and Integrity Commission goes live

Successor body to Committee on Standards in Public Life “needs full independence and statutory footing”, anti-corruption organisations warn
by Jim Dunton
Think tank floats plans for standalone Department for the Prime Minister
04 Nov Policy
Think tank floats plans for standalone Department for the Prime Minister
DSIT says AI tool could free up 75,000 civil servant days a year
16 Oct Policy
DSIT says AI tool could free up 75,000 civil servant days a year
Weak oversight and overly complex design: DESNZ criticised for insulation failings
15 Oct Policy
Weak oversight and overly complex design: DESNZ criticised for insulation failings
Home Office ‘to keep Afghan refugee policy under review’ as government responds to Taliban takeover
17 Aug 2021 Policy
Home Office ‘to keep Afghan refugee policy under review’ as government responds to Taliban takeover
Scope of resettlement to be considered ‘based on capacity for support’, the department says
Cabinet Office procurement plans ‘could do more harm than good’
30 Jul 2021 Policy
Cabinet Office procurement plans ‘could do more harm than good’
Peers warn prioritisation of competition over collaboration in public service commissioning risks compromising expertise and innovation
Cost estimate for new ‘national flagship’ rises to £250m
29 Jul 2021 Policy
Cost estimate for new ‘national flagship’ rises to £250m
Defence secretary says MoD taskforce will ensure project 'comes in on time and on budget'
End short-term focus to unlock Spending Review efficiencies, Treasury told
14 Jul 2021 Policy
End short-term focus to unlock Spending Review efficiencies, Treasury told
NAO highlights areas where efficiencies have fallen short, including shared services, automation and outsourcing
Hancock affair underscores need for ministerial code overhaul, report says
05 Jul 2021 Policy
Hancock affair underscores need for ministerial code overhaul, report says
Institute for Government also calls for ban on ministers using personal phones for official business
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
23 Jun 2021 Policy
Centre of government ‘lacks proper data’ to monitor arm’s length bodies
National Audit Office warns department-level information deficit could impact Cabinet Office’s ability to drive efficiency and reform
DfE policy adviser lined up as next Ofqual head
21 Jun 2021 Policy
DfE policy adviser lined up as next Ofqual head
Education secretary picks Jo Saxton as preferred candidate to be chief regulator at exams watchdog
15-strong levelling up task force to drive flagship policy
13 May 2021 Policy
15-strong levelling up task force to drive flagship policy
Officials will be recruited from across government for new unit
PM to set up No.10 unit to strengthen policy delivery
22 Apr 2021 Policy
PM to set up No.10 unit to strengthen policy delivery
Blair-style team will be headed up by coronavirus vaccination lead Emily Lawson
Staff churn ‘means lawyers have better policy knowledge than officers’
16 Apr 2021 Policy
Staff churn ‘means lawyers have better policy knowledge than officers’
Think tank argues policymaking processes should be improved before rules on High Court challenges are changed
Independent commission calls for Spending Reviews to be dumped
12 Apr 2021 Policy
Independent commission calls for Spending Reviews to be dumped
Panel also calls for departmental boards to get greater powers to scrutinise top officials’ performance
Departments ‘don’t have resources to design effective net-zero policies’
01 Apr 2021 Policy
Departments ‘don’t have resources to design effective net-zero policies’
Institute for Government says ministers must learn lessons from the debacle over the Green Homes Grant cancellation
MPs vote to extend Covid powers as Hancock admits they may roll over into 2022
26 Mar 2021 Policy
MPs vote to extend Covid powers as Hancock admits they may roll over into 2022
Health secretary says he "cannot answer" if the Coronavirus Act will be retired in September
Covid policy lessons: one year on from the UK’s first lockdown, how have other countries faced the crisis?
23 Mar 2021 Policy
Covid policy lessons: one year on from the UK’s first lockdown, how have other countries faced the crisis?
As the NHS performs the difficult balancing act of carrying out a nationwide vaccine rollout while trying to mitigate the spread of new Covid variants, Geoffrey Lyons peers beyond British borders to review five innovative and relatively inexpensive responses to Covid from foreign governments
Cabinet Office and FCDO ‘grappling’ over China policy, says ex-perm sec
19 Mar 2021 Policy
Cabinet Office and FCDO ‘grappling’ over China policy, says ex-perm sec
Simon McDonald tells committee departments each have claim to lead on UK approach to world’s second-largest economy
PM sets out 10-year foreign-policy vision for ‘increased international activism’
16 Mar 2021 Policy
PM sets out 10-year foreign-policy vision for ‘increased international activism’
Integrated review of security and defence eyes “tilt to the Indo-Pacific” and new tech hubs
Levelling up: the public perspective, region by region Sponsored
05 Feb 2021 Policy
Levelling up: the public perspective, region by region
The annual State of the State report has revealed regional differences in attitudes towards the Levelling Up agenda. Government must work with local areas to get the best results, writes Ed Roddis, director of Public Sector Research at Deloitte.
Northern Ireland crackdown on special advisers set to become law
03 Feb 2021 Policy
Northern Ireland crackdown on special advisers set to become law
Executive Office spad numbers will be cut to six, salaries capped at £90k and advisers subject to the same disciplinary rules as civil servants
Dominic Cummings was right about greater role for scientists, says ex-DCMS perm sec
03 Feb 2021 Policy
Dominic Cummings was right about greater role for scientists, says ex-DCMS perm sec
Sue Owen also tells IfG event government's Covid and Brexit experience should boost profile of civil service's operational delivery specialists
Amber Rudd joins public-policy institute
29 Jan 2021 Policy
Amber Rudd joins public-policy institute
Former energy secretary will lead on work around decarbonisation and COP26
Was 2020 a watershed for public sector use of algorithms?
25 Jan 2021 Policy
Was 2020 a watershed for public sector use of algorithms?
Last year saw public protests about the use of predictive analytics in decision making. As the technology becomes more widely used in many public services, Sam Trendall asks experts about the implications for government, the law – and the citizens affected
HMRC pledges to publish more data on unpaid tax
15 Jan 2021 Policy
HMRC pledges to publish more data on unpaid tax
But government rejects MPs’ call for sector breakdowns and a headline uncertainty figure
Dave Penman: There’s huge demand from civil servants for greater flexible working. Departments should help make it happen
12 Jan 2021 Policy
Dave Penman: There’s huge demand from civil servants for greater flexible working. Departments should help make it happen
FDA research reveals many civil servants want to hold on to home working even after the coronavirus emergency. Ministers must catch up to where their workforce is
Ministers don’t understand ‘depth of anger’ on civil service pay
15 Dec 2020 Policy
Ministers don’t understand ‘depth of anger’ on civil service pay
Parliamentary debate comes as Cabinet Office confirms pay freeze will apply to SCS