Home Office perm sec sets out plans to tackle compliance ‘weaknesses’
08 May Policy

Home Office perm sec sets out plans to tackle compliance ‘weaknesses’

Antonia Romeo tells MPs multi-million-pound asylum-accommodation failings exposed need for “incentivised culture-change”
by CSW staff
Simon Case: Reform UK could bring huge change to Whitehall
14 Aug Policy
Simon Case: Reform UK could bring huge change to Whitehall
Homes England names former HMPPS boss as chief exec
11 Aug Policy
Homes England names former HMPPS boss as chief exec
EHRC flags challenges posed by ‘socioeconomic duty’ requirements
07 Aug Policy
EHRC flags challenges posed by ‘socioeconomic duty’ requirements
'The time is ripe for change': How to strengthen the UK’s energy resilience and security
08 May 2024 Policy
'The time is ripe for change': How to strengthen the UK’s energy resilience and security
Technological advances in the past 200 years have relied on a plentiful supply of cheap energy, something we can no longer depend on. Energy resilience requires an integrated and joined-up cross-departmental strategy
Guidance telling civil servants to ignore ECHR rulings on Rwanda flights comes into force
30 Apr 2024 Policy
Guidance telling civil servants to ignore ECHR rulings on Rwanda flights comes into force
"Parliament has legislated" to give ministers discretion on whether to comply with Rule 39 rulings, ethics chief says
Ethics is an enabler, not a barrier to effective policymaking
29 Apr 2024 Policy
Ethics is an enabler, not a barrier to effective policymaking
The ethical and regulatory challenges associated with developments in biomedicine, health and AI are set to intensify, writes the director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics
MPs accuse DWP of 'cherry-picking' evidence on Universal Credit impact
29 Apr 2024 Policy
MPs accuse DWP of 'cherry-picking' evidence on Universal Credit impact
Report says department has based its assessment of the impact UC to the labour market on "the most positive scenario"
Treasury faces 'even tighter' spending window, figures suggest
23 Apr 2024 Policy
Treasury faces 'even tighter' spending window, figures suggest
ONS says public sector borrowing fell more slowly than predicted in 2023-24
Starmer’s mission-led government is a noble aim, but needs a moonshot approach to governance
23 Apr 2024 Policy
Starmer’s mission-led government is a noble aim, but needs a moonshot approach to governance
To succeed, Labour should plan for its missions to be led by CEOs unencumbered by the usual Whitehall bureaucracy
'A lot of it is trying to spot unintended consequences': Meet DESNZ's award-winning net-zero systems team
08 Apr 2024 Policy
'A lot of it is trying to spot unintended consequences': Meet DESNZ's award-winning net-zero systems team
A tech team supporting the cross-government push to make the UK a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 has won a prestigious award for its work
FCDO 'neglecting disabled people' in international development work
08 Apr 2024 Policy
FCDO 'neglecting disabled people' in international development work
MPs say gender-equality spending is monitored in a way that that disability inclusion work is not
Free childcare expansion 'feasible', DfE says amid concern over provision of places
05 Apr 2024 Policy
Free childcare expansion 'feasible', DfE says amid concern over provision of places
But a potential shortfall of childcare places is a risk to the reforms, according to perm sec Susan Acland-Hood
Productivity puzzle corner: The Efficiency Wars redux
28 Mar 2024 Policy
Productivity puzzle corner: The Efficiency Wars redux
In a new series of articles, Professor Colin Talbot will explore public sector productivity in the UK. This issue is increasingly on the agenda of both main contenders as they vie to form the next government and is something that will likely occupy civil servants whoever wins
Departments 'face months of funding uncertainty', OBR chair says
13 Mar 2024 Policy
Departments 'face months of funding uncertainty', OBR chair says
MPs are warned that lack of detail on spending beyond March 2025 will hamper leaders' abilty to plan
Perm secs get flak over action to combat fraud and corruption
12 Mar 2024 Policy
Perm secs get flak over action to combat fraud and corruption
Public Accounts Committee chair questions commitments to transparency and flags "vagueness" on investment for recovery work
MPs voice value-for-money fears over ballooning government borrowing
05 Mar 2024 Policy
MPs voice value-for-money fears over ballooning government borrowing
Public Accounts Committee also flags concerns over loss of institutional knowledge at Debt Management Office
Civil service spending on temporary staff hit £7.4bn last year
01 Mar 2024 Policy
Civil service spending on temporary staff hit £7.4bn last year
Contingent-labour costs increased by 4.5% across government but Cabinet Office's bill soared by 20%
Government's 'fiscal rules' aren't working and must be reformed, IfG warns
29 Feb 2024 Policy
Government's 'fiscal rules' aren't working and must be reformed, IfG warns
Think tank's proposals would give departments a "minimum" of two years' worth of firm spending plans
Labour would introduce citizens' assemblies, Sue Gray says
19 Feb 2024 Policy
Labour would introduce citizens' assemblies, Sue Gray says
Civil servants “will not like this because they have no control”, former top official warns
Covid Inquiry: WhatsApp confusion, pandemic politicking and sidelining the secretary of state
02 Feb 2024 Policy
Covid Inquiry: WhatsApp confusion, pandemic politicking and sidelining the secretary of state
Nicola Sturgeon insists decision-making records have not been lost as ministers accuse former SNP leader of trying to score points against Westminster
Civil service leaders face new back-to-office performance regime
24 Jan 2024 Policy
Civil service leaders face new back-to-office performance regime
John Glen says he wants success with 60:40 rule factored into senior officials' yearly reviews
Alarm over plans to make civil servants ignore ECHR Rwanda rulings
17 Jan 2024 Policy
Alarm over plans to make civil servants ignore ECHR Rwanda rulings
Mooted plans to change civil service code described by unions as "madness" and "desperate"
Departments’ funding woes could hamper £229m data-sharing platform
16 Jan 2024 Policy
Departments’ funding woes could hamper £229m data-sharing platform
National statistician Ian Diamond updates MPs as Integrated Data Service moves towards full rollout
'We're here to make a difference': DWP perm sec Peter Schofield on team working, moments of change and the importance of values
15 Jan 2024 Policy
'We're here to make a difference': DWP perm sec Peter Schofield on team working, moments of change and the importance of values
The Department for Work and Pensions perm sec tells CSW about his civil service career, his connection to DWP’s mission, and a profound turning point in his personal life
Cameron grilled over ODA cut and merger that created FCDO
10 Jan 2024 Policy
Cameron grilled over ODA cut and merger that created FCDO
Foreign secretary says new leadership structures are making the department “work better than it was”
Starmer working on plans to tackle civil-service churn – and other news you may have missed over Christmas
02 Jan 2024 Policy
Starmer working on plans to tackle civil-service churn – and other news you may have missed over Christmas
Labour leader wants DGs to stay in post longer, Cummings claims Sunak offered him new No.10 role, and IfG calls for Spring Budget to be scrapped
Home Office drops modern slavery support measures over 'viability and funding'
11 Dec 2023 Policy
Home Office drops modern slavery support measures over 'viability and funding'
Charities accuse government being “no longer committed to protecting victims of modern slavery”