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Former FCO chief insists old department will be "absolutely at the heart of" new prime minister's task of quitting the European Union

Cabinet Office confirms pilots will test changes to civil service-wide staff grading system, but draws fire for “frustratingly slow” progress

National Audit Office issues another qualification of department’s accounts and says fraud and error levels remain “unacceptably high”

Watchdog suggests Home Office and NHS England tighten joint-working arrangements in future outsourcing deals

Tom Scholar rejects suggestion referendum preparations were weak and focused on securing a “Remain” result – but confirms existence of civil service-wide resource review

Information Commissioner says “public interest” in naming representatives from US healthcare firms overrides Freedom of Information exemption

Local Government Association says Brexit talks should not simply return legislative responsibilites straight to Westminster

National Probation Service director Colin Allars named as successor to Lin Hinnigan at troubled young offenders' organisation

University College London academics spearhead drive for independent inquiry into both sides’ “misinformation” and “outright falsehood”

Key aide to Boris Johnson has the “experience and leadership” to ensure the government’s housing targets are met, says communities secretary Greg Clark

Single Source Regulations Office chair Clive Tucker says there are “compelling reasons” to enhance his watchdog's authority over non-competitive military contracts

Resignation announcement comes ahead of the publication of the Taylor Review of the Youth Justice System

Civil Service People Survey delivery partner commends department’s bounce-back from morale doldrums

Prospect union identifies parts of government where temps and contractors account for more than a fifth of all staff spend – and warns of a structural reliance on non-salaried staff

National Audit Office investigation exposes trail of failings over £18.8m-a-year contract which saw consultancy make "incorrect and misleading representations" on overheads

HM Treasury’s John Kingman, Northern Ireland Office’s Malcolm McKibbin and Department for Communities and Local Government’s Louise Casey also receive top accolades

New chief executive and permanent secretary tells MPs that technology issues and new performance management regime are at the root of organisation’s problems

Hilary Spencer lined up as new head of the Government Equalities Office

PHE chief executive Duncan Selbie tells MPs of desire to return to cross-working model from “two reorganisations ago”

Lord Maude of Horsham’s request among appointments watchdog’s latest raft of transparency data

Independent recruitment regulator says campaign group’s league table was factually wrong and misdirected

Common Technology Service director details joined-up approach to handle “£8bn in contract exits”

Home Affairs Select Committee report contrasts staffing cuts with a 29% spike in asylum applications

Spending watchdog criticises Cabinet Office for oversight of plan to merge back office functions, as delays and lack of buy-in lops millions off savings target

Experts question the ability of Queen’s Speech centrepiece to deal with system's core problems

Just-published guide from the public spending watchdog says government needs sustained effort to bring commercial and contracting work up to scratch

Justice secretary Michael Gove says improvement board report highlights “broader problems” with the youth justice system

Interim chief Martin Jones has position made permanent

Unions welcomed Court of Appeal decision backing 2015 ruling that amendments to DfT's staff handbook were unlawful

New report calls on government to give better detail on city region power structures and spending

Energy secretary Amber Rudd leads tributes as former chief scientific advisor loses battle with stomach cancer

Social enterprise takes over reins of public sector development programme as government ends centrally-funded support

MPs demand tax agency improves “woefully inadequate” prosecutions record and says it should publish more straightforward details on the effectiveness of its work. But HMRC says it has been "relentless and strategic" in pursuing those who fail to pay their "fair share"

Civil service union PCS argues latest proposals do not take account of Land Registry's digital progress and could lead to a reduced capacity for statutory work

Home Affairs select committee demands department’s second permanent secretary returns to answer Border Force budget questions