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
Covid Inquiry: Austerity hit public-health services hard, UKHSA chief says
27 Jun 2023 Policy
Covid Inquiry: Austerity hit public-health services hard, UKHSA chief says
Community infection prevention and control became a “declining resource” with local authorities under “significant” pressure, Jenny Harries says
MPs launch probe into cross-Whitehall strategic thinking
22 Jun 2023 Policy
MPs launch probe into cross-Whitehall strategic thinking
Liaison Committee will examine how well government identifies opportunities, as well as risks and threats
Bridging the gap: bringing local evidence to national policy
19 Jun 2023 Policy
Bridging the gap: bringing local evidence to national policy
Urgency to address regional disparities is clear and urgent shouldn’t mean we invest in untested, ideas, policies or businesses without evidence or strategy
From investment zones to the Levelling Up Fund: How government is going for growth
19 Jun 2023 Policy
From investment zones to the Levelling Up Fund: How government is going for growth
The government’s latest plans for building economic prosperity across the country include investment zones and Levelling Up Partnerships, with “trailblazer deals” and additional regeneration cash thrown in for good measure. We help you navigate the details
Departments ‘not taking siloed approach’ to net zero, perm sec insists
16 Jun 2023 Policy
Departments ‘not taking siloed approach’ to net zero, perm sec insists
However DESNZ boss Jeremy Pocklington tells MPs seven key sectors targeted for innovation would benefit from “a clearer lead”
'It didn’t seem to grasp the rationale': Can ChatGPT do a civil servant's job?
13 Jun 2023 Policy
'It didn’t seem to grasp the rationale': Can ChatGPT do a civil servant's job?
CSW asked a cross-section of officials to play around with ChatGPT and establish how good it is at some of the everyday tasks they perform in their jobs. Here, Greg from the Department for Business and Trade asks for help designing net-zero policy
Can ChatGPT do a civil servant's job? CSW's panel put it to the test
13 Jun 2023 Policy
Can ChatGPT do a civil servant's job? CSW's panel put it to the test
We asked a cross-section of officials to play around with ChatGPT and establish how good it is at some of the everyday tasks they perform in their jobs. See how well it did...
Cabinet Office sets out plans for ‘policy campus’ in Sheffield
09 Jun 2023 Policy
Cabinet Office sets out plans for ‘policy campus’ in Sheffield
City will also pilot regional Fast Stream programme starting with 2024 intake
Revolution by retweet: The growing influence of social media on education policy
05 Jun 2023 Policy
Revolution by retweet: The growing influence of social media on education policy
Richard Willis analyses the impact of changing technology on education policymaking
PCS 'rules nothing out' amid Home Office staff concern over asylum policy
31 May 2023 Policy
PCS 'rules nothing out' amid Home Office staff concern over asylum policy
PCS official says industrial solution could be sought to "look after welfare" of civil servants if Rwanda deal litigation fails
‘Dysfunctional’ FCDO systems left aid watchdog unable to recruit staff and pay contractors
25 May 2023 Policy
‘Dysfunctional’ FCDO systems left aid watchdog unable to recruit staff and pay contractors
ICAI details recruitment and spending challenges following FCO-DfID merger
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
24 May 2023 Policy
Braverman's missed PR move and 'terrifying' Sue Gray: Five things we learned at the IfG’s civil service impartiality summit
The home secretary missed a trick by skipping her speed-awareness course, while Gus O’Donnell fears a crony takeover of Whitehall
'Relentless' policy shifts have hit civil servants' faith in leadership, Chisholm says
19 May 2023 Policy
'Relentless' policy shifts have hit civil servants' faith in leadership, Chisholm says
Officials have been "discombobulated" by non-stop change in policy and ministers, COO says
George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants
18 May 2023 Policy
George Eustice is right: ministers should spend more time with junior civil servants
While the civil service is dominated by generalists when it comes to policy, junior civil servants may be the closest thing ministers have to experts
Whitehall ‘not moving fast enough’ on product-safety reform
12 May 2023 Policy
Whitehall ‘not moving fast enough’ on product-safety reform
Public Accounts Committee chair voices concerns about pace of progress with 2021 review
'Opening up my door to junior civil servants was powerful,' ex-environment secretary says
10 May 2023 Policy
'Opening up my door to junior civil servants was powerful,' ex-environment secretary says
George Eustice extols virtues of interrogating officials who have done 'hard graft to understand an issue'
DfE minister admits ‘challenge’ of Spring Budget childcare offer
09 May 2023 Policy
DfE minister admits ‘challenge’ of Spring Budget childcare offer
Expansion of 30-hours-a-week entitlement requires renaissance in recruitment, Claire Coutinho tells MPs
NICS head unpacks impact of power-vacuum budget cuts
05 May 2023 Policy
NICS head unpacks impact of power-vacuum budget cuts
Jayne Brady warns there will be some decisions officials cannot legally make in absence of Northern Ireland Executive
Scottish Government decision making can be 'rushed and unclear', ex-officials warn
03 May 2023 Policy
Scottish Government decision making can be 'rushed and unclear', ex-officials warn
Financial rules are sometimes seen as "bureaucratic or optional", former civil servants tell committee
Civil servant to walk length of UK for charity
27 Apr 2023 Policy
Civil servant to walk length of UK for charity
DSIT official says managers have been "extremely supportive" of his career break
Think tank calls for all departments to get a chief exec
14 Apr 2023 Policy
Think tank calls for all departments to get a chief exec
Reform plans also target churn and prospect of annual £80bn in savings from better productivity
Long-suppressed DWP report shows benefits sanctions 'slow progress into work'
11 Apr 2023 Policy
Long-suppressed DWP report shows benefits sanctions 'slow progress into work'
DWP forced to release 2020 report – after making more people subject to sanctions
Time travel in Whitehall: Institutional amnesia and learning lessons from history
03 Apr 2023 Policy
Time travel in Whitehall: Institutional amnesia and learning lessons from history
Closing the gap between history and policy is a critical concern with relevance to contemporary debates about immigration, sentencing policy, childcare, to mention just a few
Departments ‘back net-zero objectives', Pocklington tells MPs
27 Mar 2023 Policy
Departments ‘back net-zero objectives', Pocklington tells MPs
But energy security department perm sec acknowledges that decarbonising power sector by 2035 will be “very challenging”