Policy

Top official at the business department says plan to subsidise apprenticeship wages could set an "unhelpful precedent" – and seeks the fourth ministerial direction of the parliament

Senior Tory backbencher joins former Treasury solicitor Sir Paul Jenkins in questioning removal of reference to international law

DWP perm sec heaps praise on the department's operations team for finding efficiencies, while acknowledging staff can't "just pedal faster forever"

Analysis: What does the tax credits defeat in the House of Lords mean for the government's legislative programme – and are civil servants ready for the fallout?

Dods Research finds LSE best-perceived among officials, while some civil servants call for better access to academic studies

New diagnostic tool from the Institute for Government aims to help officials assess viability of public service markets

Institute for Government finds it is "much harder than it should be" to establish evidence base for public policymaking – and launches new tool to help officials

Diplomatic source says “more likely” move to curb benefits will result in restrictions lasting “months rather than years”

More say over Assembly procedures, energy and transport promised in Draft Wales Bill

Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock releases figures showing GDS exits since May represent 2% of its workforce – while Labour warns of "haemorrhaging" of digital talent

EVEL plans should be "piloted on statutory instruments"; pension freedoms could be putting savers at risk – the latest from the House of Commons select committees

The government's lead non-executive says public services are now at a "critical juncture"