Jim Dunton

Pandemic pressures push civil service headcount higher, ONS reports
16 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Pandemic pressures push civil service headcount higher, ONS reports
Quarterly figures show staff numbers grew by 3,600 between March and June, with Department for Work and Pensions posting biggest rise
Department denies chair shortage is hampering return-to-work drive
15 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Department denies chair shortage is hampering return-to-work drive
Report suggests Whitehall faces a “bum fight” for seats after chairs are sent to civil servants’ homes for lockdown
Priti Patel tight-lipped on ‘completed’ probe into bullying claims
15 Sep 2020 HR
Priti Patel tight-lipped on ‘completed’ probe into bullying claims
Home secretary refuses to endorse publication of Cabinet Office report into allegations about her treatment of staff
DWP rapped for coronavirus health and safety failings at Leeds office
11 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
DWP rapped for coronavirus health and safety failings at Leeds office
Inspector dubs return-to-work targets “ambitious and unrealistic” after finding social-distancing rules being breached
Cummings never forecast a 'hard rain' for Whitehall, Gove claims
11 Sep 2020 Civil Service Reform
Cummings never forecast a 'hard rain' for Whitehall, Gove claims
Cabinet Office minister tells MPs No.10 chief adviser's weather warning was misheard
Cabinet Office urged to rethink ‘irresponsible’ back-to-work plans for civil servants
10 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Cabinet Office urged to rethink ‘irresponsible’ back-to-work plans for civil servants
Union calls on perm sec Alex Chisholm to shelve 80% target amid “growing concern” over second wave of Covid-19
FCDO creation puts scores of former DfID staff in limbo, warns union
09 Sep 2020 Foreign Affairs
FCDO creation puts scores of former DfID staff in limbo, warns union
PCS says new department’s policy on fixed-term contracts is also unfair to underrepresented groups
MHCLG 'needs new regulator' to oversee council audit work
09 Sep 2020 Finance
MHCLG 'needs new regulator' to oversee council audit work
Call from independent Redmond Review comes after Audit Commission was scrapped by the coalition government
Hollywood beckons for nuclear power station’s sci-fi control desk, decommissioning agency says
08 Sep 2020 Commercial
Hollywood beckons for nuclear power station’s sci-fi control desk, decommissioning agency says
Decommissioning contractors sell Magnox hardware to Harry Potter film studio
Is your department growing or shrinking? Stats show changing shape of Whitehall
07 Sep 2020 HR
Is your department growing or shrinking? Stats show changing shape of Whitehall
The ranks of the civil service may have swelled by 10,000 over the past year, but not all ministries are expanding, a Civil Service World data crunch reveals
Civil service needs more 'robust' contingency planning, NAO Brexit review warns
04 Sep 2020 Brexit
Civil service needs more 'robust' contingency planning, NAO Brexit review warns
Watchdog flags lack of pace and stakeholder engagement in Brexit preparations as supply chains warn of “severe” disruption when transition period ends
Next ‘cyber crisis’ will probably be an accident, says outgoing NCSC chief
04 Sep 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
Next ‘cyber crisis’ will probably be an accident, says outgoing NCSC chief
Ciaran Martin fears combination of departmental error and ransomware attacker “not really understanding what they’re doing”
Harassment of civil servants a 'bigger problem' in Scottish Government than rest of UK, union chief says
03 Sep 2020 HR
Harassment of civil servants a 'bigger problem' in Scottish Government than rest of UK, union chief says
Dave Penman tells MSPs dozens of staff in Scotland had complaints about ministers compared with "only a handful" in other nations
David Sterling stands down after ‘42 years, 199 days’ with NICS
01 Sep 2020 HR
David Sterling stands down after ‘42 years, 199 days’ with NICS
Former Cabinet Office ethics chief Sue Gray among candidates to succeed Sterling as head of Northern Ireland Civil Service
How well paid is your profession? Civil service salary rankings revealed
01 Sep 2020 HR
How well paid is your profession? Civil service salary rankings revealed
Cabinet Office data shows planning inspectors and lawyers drop down league table for median earnings
Civil service continues to grow London headcount
28 Aug 2020
Civil service continues to grow London headcount
Latest workforce statistics show capital-based staff on the rise as North East numbers decline
Scrapping Public Health England won’t be a quick win, ministers warned
26 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Scrapping Public Health England won’t be a quick win, ministers warned
IfG says new National Institute for Health Protection faces same problems as predecessor with added disruption from reorganisation
Ofqual chief Sally Collier quits after exam-grading debacle
25 Aug 2020 Education
Ofqual chief Sally Collier quits after exam-grading debacle
Regulator says outgoing boss believes next stage of awarding process will be “better overseen by new leadership”
Leslie Evans ‘very willing’ to answer questions on Alex Salmond staff advice
25 Aug 2020 HR
Leslie Evans ‘very willing’ to answer questions on Alex Salmond staff advice
Scottish Government perm sec writes letter to MSPs after controversy surrounding harassment inquiry appearance
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
21 Aug 2020 Communications
Unions call for jobs guarantee in huge government comms reorganisation
PCS says centralisation drive could put thousands of staff at risk and give No.10 "unprecedented control"
Shapps launches ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up transport infrastructure projects
21 Aug 2020 Project Delivery
Shapps launches ‘Acceleration Unit’ to speed up transport infrastructure projects
Move comes as Crossrail bosses reveal line will cost an extra £450m and not open until 2022
Price of MI6 spymaster’s former lair is no secret
21 Aug 2020 Property & Estates
Price of MI6 spymaster’s former lair is no secret
Whitehall Court penthouse in former Secret Intelligence Service HQ goes on market for £5.5m
Jenkin speaks out over scapegoating of civil servants
21 Aug 2020 Civil Service Reform
Jenkin speaks out over scapegoating of civil servants
Chair of parliament’s powerful Liaison Committee says ministerial buck-passing risks hampering government’s effectiveness
Louise Casey quits government rough sleeping review role
21 Aug 2020 Health & Social Care
Louise Casey quits government rough sleeping review role
Former Troubled Families tsar says appointment to House of Lords contributed to decision
MoJ hits ‘pause’ on coronavirus early-release scheme for prisoners
20 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
MoJ hits ‘pause’ on coronavirus early-release scheme for prisoners
Data shows at least 275 inmates have been freed from jail ahead of time under pandemic programme
Scottish Government was ‘ahead of the pack’ with harassment policy, perm sec says
18 Aug 2020 HR
Scottish Government was ‘ahead of the pack’ with harassment policy, perm sec says
But Leslie Evans accepts policy used to investigate complaints against Alex Salmond was "designed as an HR procedure, not a legal instrument"
MPs demand Dominic Cummings explain 'unclear' role in defence review
18 Aug 2020 Security & Defence
MPs demand Dominic Cummings explain 'unclear' role in defence review
Defence Committee chair Tobias Ellwood says Boris Johnson’s chief spad has twice been called to give evidence
Scottish Government staff set for 3% ‘interim’ pay rise
16 Apr 2020 HR
Scottish Government staff set for 3% ‘interim’ pay rise

Finance minister agrees to make basic payment ASAP with further negotiations later
Social care chiefs tell DHSC their concerns over Covid-19 response
16 Apr 2020 Culture
Social care chiefs tell DHSC their concerns over Covid-19 response

Leaked letter to senior health department official says ministers’ messages have created ‘confusion and additional workload’
MPs demand answers on presentation of coronavirus mortality stats
15 Apr 2020 Digital, Data & Technology
MPs demand answers on presentation of coronavirus mortality stats

PACAC chair asks national statistician which dataset the nation should use after concerns about hospital-only figures
Coronavirus crisis offers ‘rare chance’ for tax reform, says think-tank
15 Apr 2020 Economics
Coronavirus crisis offers ‘rare chance’ for tax reform, says think-tank

Treasury and HMRC urged to build evidence base for change as support for better-funded public services is expected to grow
DCMS ‘lacks full picture’ of museums’ maintenance needs
31 Mar 2020 Economics
DCMS ‘lacks full picture’ of museums’ maintenance needs

National Audit Office questions financial planning for keeping top institutions in good repair
People Survey reveals work-life balance improved despite Brexit
30 Mar 2020 Government Tax Profession
People Survey reveals work-life balance improved despite Brexit

But HMRC and Border Force workers are still among the most stressed parts of the civil service, according to poll data
Civil Service People Survey 2019: Engagement and pay satisfaction rises
27 Mar 2020 Government Tax Profession
Civil Service People Survey 2019: Engagement and pay satisfaction rises

Delayed results of sentiment poll paint broad picture of ongoing improvement
HMRC sets out measures to fix ‘inefficient and ineffective’ recruitment
26 Mar 2020 Economics
HMRC sets out measures to fix ‘inefficient and ineffective’ recruitment

MPs told previous verbal and numeric testing regime was slashing candidate pool by half
Pickles eyes crackdown on civil service leavers as Acoba chief
23 Mar 2020 HR
Pickles eyes crackdown on civil service leavers as Acoba chief

Former communities secretary fears private sector roles for Brexit negotiators will be major issue