News

The cost of government’s “bonfire of the quangos” will be nearly twice the amount estimated by departments, according to a report published by the National Audit Office (NAO) last week.

The NHS reforms set out in the government’s Health and Social Care Bill are “disrupting and distracting” the effort to make £20bn of savings over the next four years, according to a critical report published yesterday by the Commons Health Committee.

Leading figures in local government argued that there’s no evidence of the economic need for reform of the planning system at the Local Government Summit last week.

750ml, £38.80 and £65

www.ardbeg.com

Civil servants must get better at learning from their procurement mistakes, a senior Treasury official has told CSW.

The new leaders of the civil service are to tighten up corporate leadership with the creation of a Civil Service Board, the head of the civil service Sir Bob Kerslake has told CSW.

Many public sector projects struggle to stay on time and on budget, and civil servants are under growing pressure to improve their game. Joshua Chambers asks the experts how government can avoid project management pitfalls.

With infrastructure development a key plank of the government’s growth strategy, the Treasury’s investment team Infrastructure UK has an ever-more important role to play. Suzannah Brecknell meets its chief, Geoffrey Spence.

The incoming cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, Jeremy Heywood and Bob Kerslake, are taking on their new jobs at a time of unprecedented financial, policy and political challenges. Matt Ross meets them.

After 15 years in the civil service – including a stint as the cabinet secretary’s communications chief – Siobhan Benita is making the leap into politics. Matt Ross meets the would-be London mayor as she kicks off her campaign.

The incoming head of the civil service, Sir Bob Kerslake, has warned civil servants that in 2012 ministers will expect to agree and enact reforms across the civil service.

The government’s deputy CIO Bill McCluggage has spoken of the need to identify "robust funding" for the Government App Store, a planned online portal through which public sector organisations will be able to source, share and promote certified ICT solutions.

 

Permanent Secretary, Department for International Development

In 2000, Tim Kelsey launched the private business Dr Foster to produce a league table on hospital performance. Now he’s been hired by the PM to push the transparency agenda throughout Whitehall. Matt Ross meets him.

Leadership development in schools could be improved, says this teacher, and workloads must be tackled.

Keith Vaz is the chair of the home affairs committee, and an acerbic critic of the Home Office and UKBA. Joshua Chambers hears him analyse the Home Office’s weaknesses – and give a rendition of a song about white flags.

Ed Davey, charged with mutualising the Post Office, argues that past mutualisations haven’t won the backing of employees. Suzannah Brecknell hears him discuss the challenges – and praise the power of ‘nudge’ technique

The Cabinet Office has launched a new website where public sector workers can submit suggestions on how to make their organisations more efficient. The website, called 'Tell Us How', was launched last week and is open to all public sector staff - from frontline workers to senior civil servants.

A city planner working in a tough part of the North warns that coalition plans may undermine wider regeneration aims in a dash for instant cash.

When he warned of impending economic catastrophe in 2008, Alistair Darling prioritised rigorous honesty above short-term political advantage. Joshua Chambers finds that he’s still just as determined to voice awkward truths