News

Susanna Smith from the Public Chairs’ Forum and Association of Chief Executives highlights the key themes – from relocations to Brexit – being discussed at Cabinet Office’s Public Bodies Week

Two parliamentary reports highlight problems at Irish border and frustration at perceived Whitehall “power grab”

As she leaves government to return to the private sector, Sherin Aminossehe shares her lessons from working in Whitehall – from the ministers to the acronyms

Tax collection agency picks internal candidate as Edward Troup retires

Public Bodies 2017 report suggests some “tailored reviews” will be rescheduled until post-EU landscape becomes clearer

Department leads on over one-fifth of the cross-Whitehall projects that need to be implemented for EU exit, according to auditors

From weather forecasting to healthcare inspection, public bodies play a crucial role in maintaining public services. Lesley Ann Nash, the director for public bodies reform at the Cabinet Office, explains what government is doing to keep them fit for purpose

Lack of Brexit clarity has stoked fears that government “will expect the impossible” from immigration staff

Health and education departments first to benefit from ‘confidence and supply’ agreement

Deal reached after discussions undertaking by government’s top Brexit civil servant

 

When facing a policy puzzle, civil servants shouldn’t see trade associations as adversaries. As former trade body chair Sir Mark Boleat explains, they can be a useful resource for the savvy official

Policy Institute warns that current Whitehall structures "lack of strategic thinking and leadership" to implement the industrial strategy

Two reports – from Reform and Lord Holmes – flag up the transformational potential of the distributed ledger technology

MPs accuse DExEU of "contempt" after sectoral analysis handed to Brexit committee was stripped of market-sensitive information

After a shaky start, the Crown Commercial Service is changing the way it works with departments in a bid to improve the government’s buying habits. But chief executive Malcolm Harrison tells Richard Johnstone that its success shouldn’t be measured by savings alone, as he sets out the frustrations – and fun – of cross-government working

Appointments expected in first half of 2018 will fulfil Conservative party manifesto promise

Polly Payne and Ruth Hannant named directors general for Rail Group in move hailed by perm sec as progress in "overwhelmingly male" industry

Flagship government document identifies four "grand challenges" that UK must address to take advantage of global economic trends

DExEU minister reveals department has 32 trained mental health champions in wellbeing drive

But peer review finds HR qualms and suggests the organisation needs louder voice on air quality

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People

A court ruling this month means a Scottish Government plan to introduce a minimum price for alcohol will finally go ahead. Its introduction is a nothing short of a thing of beauty in policymaking

Action pre-empts driving examiner strike expected to start in early December

Crown Prosecution Service, Department for International Development and HM Revenue & Customs initiatives recognised at Lancaster House event