HS2 reset: Lovegrove report unpacks lessons for civil service
20 May Finance

HS2 reset: Lovegrove report unpacks lessons for civil service

Recommendations include more realistic salaries for officials working on major projects and a culture shift away from “automatically” appointing career civil servant as SRO
by Jim Dunton
Treasury dubs size of Northern Ireland’s public sector ‘a significant budgetary challenge’
03 Jun Finance
Treasury dubs size of Northern Ireland’s public sector ‘a significant budgetary challenge’
NS&I offers up to £220k for next chief executive
02 Jun Finance
NS&I offers up to £220k for next chief executive
MPs urge government to probe root causes of billions in ‘wasted’ public funds
27 May Finance
MPs urge government to probe root causes of billions in ‘wasted’ public funds
Senior civil servants report significant financial pressures
19 May Finance
Senior civil servants report significant financial pressures
Survey: 75% of top bosses say the squeeze is “substantial” or worse, and one-in-five describe morale and staff wellbeing as the main casualty
Treasury publishes ‘significantly revised’ Magenta Book
18 May Finance
Treasury publishes ‘significantly revised’ Magenta Book
Cross-department Evaluation Task Force describes updated guidance as “major milestone” for evidence-based policymaking
Civil Service Pensions Taskforce head Angela MacDonald to retire
08 May Finance
Civil Service Pensions Taskforce head Angela MacDonald to retire
Cabinet Office will appoint an operational director to serve as a permanent successor but HMRC says it has “no plans” for a new second perm sec
Scrap 60% office mandate, union demands amid rising living costs
27 Mar Finance
Scrap 60% office mandate, union demands amid rising living costs
PCS says scrapping the civil service-wide hybrid working policy will reduce costs for both civil servants and departments
Ex-HMRC boss Harra drafted in to run NS&I
26 Mar Finance
Ex-HMRC boss Harra drafted in to run NS&I
Shakeup comes as state-owned bank admits that up to £476m may not have been paid to the families of customers who died
Public interest test 'will end outsourcing by default' of government contracts
26 Mar Finance
Public interest test 'will end outsourcing by default' of government contracts
Government departments will now have to conduct public interest tests on whether £1m-plus outsourced service contracts can be delivered more effectively in house
FCDO sets out detail on overseas aid cuts
20 Mar Finance
FCDO sets out detail on overseas aid cuts
Changes “make the whole world more vulnerable”, International Development Committee chair warns
Departments’ use of banking-style anti-fraud checks set for review
13 Mar Finance
Departments’ use of banking-style anti-fraud checks set for review
HM Treasury tells MPs “cross-government stocktake” will explore which organisations seek identity validation for payments and whether new guidance is needed 
MPs express doubts over plan to halve consultancy spend
11 Mar Finance
MPs express doubts over plan to halve consultancy spend
Public Accounts Committee warns of inconsistent data on consultancy spending across government
HMT launches search for next OBR chair
20 Feb Finance
HMT launches search for next OBR chair
OBR needs new boss after Richard Hughes resignation which followed budget leak probe
Treasury names new chief economic adviser
16 Feb Finance
Treasury names new chief economic adviser
Migration Advisory Committee chair Brian Bell will join department from next month
Treasury aiming to reduce micromanagement of departments
12 Feb Finance
Treasury aiming to reduce micromanagement of departments
Plus, James Bowler suggests smaller department will aid career progression