With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs round-up series...
Former head of the civil service says "public will draw their own conclusions" about any attempt to curb the transparency law
With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Jonathan Jones, HM Procurator General, Treasury Solicitor and Head of the Government Legal Service, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs round-up series...
Gardner will be the first woman to take on the role overseeing government legislation
Economic Affairs Committee warns that Scotland Bill is progressing with “undue haste''
Police and Crime Commissioners write to ministers over new funding formula – but Home Office says changes will improve "complex, opaque and out of date" system
Special report: Extensive cross-government survey finds broad range of views on the FOI act – with calls for more central support in dealing with requests and just over 50% of officials in favour of introducing charges
Senior Tory backbencher joins former Treasury solicitor Sir Paul Jenkins in questioning removal of reference to international law
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?
Labour asks the NAO to look into Just Solutions International
Cabinet Office says amended ministerial code continues to account for international conduct – but Sir Paul Jenkins warns of "contempt for the rule of international law"
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