Policy

Public Accounts Committee says accountability system for major electrification programme was too complex, and casts doubt on cost estimates even after £1.2bn increase

Tory former Cabinet Office heavyweight heaps praise on staff at the centre of government – but hits out at civil service churn, the quality of advice, and the skills valued in line departments

 Statements and press releases gave misleading picture of reduction in homelessness, the UK Statistics Authority finds, because press and policy teams failed to consult with statisticians before publication

Education department comes in for criticism as audit office report flags increasing free school costs as old buildings fall into disrepair

Public Accounts Committee says department still does not fully understand impact of benefit sanctions, and warns their use could have knock-on effects for other areas of government

UK Government Investments – which leads on the management and privatisation of state assets – seeks new director

Newly-released interviews by the Institute for Government offer a fascinating insight into politicians’ views of the Whitehall machine. They ain’t all that flattering, finds Suzannah Brecknell...

Cabinet Office’s role in protecting information “remains unclear within central government”, warns Public Accounts Commitee

Walport will serve as sole accounting officer for the powerful new research funding umbrella body

International trade secretary pushes back against Lord O'Donnell and Sir Andrew Cahn's House mag and CSW comments on the work of his new ministry

 But devolved parliaments in Holyrood, Cardiff and Stormont will not get binding votes on Article 50

Think tank deputy director Julian McCrae says dealing with impact of the ageing society will be a dominant domestic task for Whitehall over the next 15 years

Minister Ben Gummer says his department is working with the Civil Service Commission to unwind coalition-era reforms – but questions remain over fate of staff already brought into government

Number of deputy directors also set to fall from 116 to 80, according to the HSJ

Recruitment drive looks to replace lost policy officers after former department’s relocation bid

More pre-Budget consultation, the creation of a new Cabinet committee, and a tougher stance from Treasury perm secs feature on think tanks' wish list

Public Accounts Committee warns councils and refugees are confused by responsibilities and entitlements

Civil service chief people officer Rupert McNeil says leadership academy, launching later this year, will ask leaders to learn from successes and failures "of their peers and predecessors"

Data Science Accelerator programme adds a new hub as Government Digital Service aims to sharpen Whitehall's use of data

Former chancellor says British system is weakened by hierarchical divide between politician and officials 

New report says prime minister must move quickly if she is serious about domestic policy pledges

HMRC’s Jon Thompson and MoD’s Stephen Lovegrove shed light on what the end of guided distribution will mean for staff, as Prospect union and the Public Service People Managers' Association give their take on getting performance management right

Cross-department team behind HR reform proposals wins Reimagine Challenge. Matt Ross reports

Lack of awareness about devolution issues in Whitehall is “unacceptable”, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee says, as Brexit brings fresh pressure for UK government to improve the way it works with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland