Policy

 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