News

Outgoing Foreign Office permanent secretary stresses the need for “balance” between the centre of government and individual departments ahead of further reforms

PAC chair Meg Hillier accuses the DCLG perm sec of "sophistry" as Melanie Dawes seeks to explain communities department's handling of scheme to free up public land for new homes

Scathing report on prisons estate from Nick Hardwick blames deterioration on staff shortages, over-crowding and "misguided policies"

Former health secretary says top civil servant's judgement "open to question" as MPs launch inquiry into "purdah" rule change ahead of EU vote

Spending watchdog finds problems with department's administration of Common Agricultural Policy payments

The Institute for Government director dissects the summer Budget and finds the toughest news is still to come for Whitehall

Cabinet secretary stresses that spending review will allow departments to make "considered decisions" on "size and shape of their workforces"

Former head of the government finance profession handed CIPFA medal for "outstanding" public service

Union calls on Scots finance minister John Swinney to reject Chancellor's one per cent public sector payrise cap north of the border

What do David Cameron’s changes at the centre tell us about his government? Jill Rutter from the Institute for Government analyses the new team around the PM

Civil service must avoid culture of “delegating up” and take ownership of policy delivery, says civil service chief John Manzoni

Lowell Goddard orders civil servants not to destroy documents relating to the sexual abuse of children.

Chancellor uses first Conservative-only Budget to announce four more years of public sector pay restraint

The civil service and other public sector organisations must look to their current employees for development and leadership roles if they are to succeed, says Cornerstone OnDemand 

Follow all the action as chancellor George Osborne delivers his latest Budget

UK’s representative to the UN Sir Mark Lyall-Grant will succeed Sir Kim Darroch as David Cameron’s national security adviser

Welfare cuts plan will reportedly be spread out over three years

As first Civil Service Commissioner, Sir David Normington regularly interviews officials and outside candidates hoping to make the leap to the Senior Civil Service. At an "Unlocking the Senior Civil Service" event in Westminster – co-hosted by CSW's parent company Dods and the FDA union – he offered some words of advice for those looking to make the leap

"Robespierre terror" of Public Accounts Committee under former chair Margaret Hodge will be copied by more MPs, former health secretary warns officials

Cornerstone OnDemand's Mike Baker sets out the three key areas to consider when managing the 2.3% of those in employment  on zero-hour contracts 

With more cuts to come, Whitehall departments are eyeing productivity gains as a silver bullet

Working on ambitious major projects can be daunting, but good planning can make life a lot more simple

How the Court Funds Office benefited from increased digitisation using modern systems and solutions 

Richard Heaton to succeed Ursula Brennan as MoJ permanent secretary, while civil service chief executive John Manzoni given Heaton's Cabinet Office perm sec remit