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Paul Caldwell confirmed as permanent head of troubled Defra distribution arm

But Cabinet Office agrees to formal review of pay system for Senior Civil Service

Melanie Dawes cites “amazing” response as evidence of Whitehall departments’ ability to break down operational silos

Furious reaction over Philip Hammond's suggestion that staff enjoy “10% premium” over private sector counterparts

Civil service chief exec says he and colleagues are "very conscious" of the 1% cap on pay rises, and suggests officials could see a more regionalised and role-related approach to increases

Head of civil service predicts that when he stands down, a range of senior women will be in the running to succeed him

National Audit Office report says late-running programme was “overly ambitious” with an “unachievable” timescale

Open-spaces campaign group says just-launched database falls short of Conservative Party’s 2015 manifesto pledge

Commission urges focus on investment away from London and the South East, but warns of “dilution” of know-how witnessed by civil service departments

David Gauke tells MPs fewer than 100 of the planned 750 Jobcentre redundancies will be frontline roles

Education secretary appoints former lawyer to helm of new higher education regulator

Some closure-threatened Jobcentres win reprieve in estates reorganisation, but new sites are earmarked to shut

Paul Lincoln to lead immigration and customs-control body from September

Transport secretary Chris Grayling insists services are improving and some recommendations are already being implemented

Civil service mainstay Prospect warns new work and pensions secretary not to raise retirement bar

From next month ministers and Whitehall civil servants will get figures “at the same time as everyone else”

As the death toll continues to rise, prime minister says nation needs answers on high-rise inferno disaster

Department of Finance perm sec David Sterling steps up to succeed Malcolm McKibbin amid continued political turmoil

Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party has new-found influence in Westminster now its 10 MPs look likely to prop up the Conservative minority government. Here are some its key policies of interest to the public sector.

Former civil service head predicts polls drubbing will take “austerity” off the political agenda

Pan-Whitehall campaign seeks 70 new analysts, with Defra earmarked for biggest intake

MPs and centre users back call to save one of 78 threatened offices

Environmental campaigners seek High Court review of clean air proposals and consultation

New UK Statistics Authority chair pledges to push for raised status and seniority for profession

Influential research institute says main parties’ policy proposals – including on public-sector pay – mask the real choices facing the nation and their consequences

Party’s manifesto promises “an end to wasteful public spending programmes” and a drive to make HM Revenue and Customs crack down on big corporations’ late payments to small firms

Union says Theresa May’s vision ignores pay and retention issues that will hamper public sector’s ability to maximise the potential of Brexit

Think tank warns post-Brexit trade deals will require a step-change in Whitehall culture with the creation of a new “trade negotiator” profession as a priority

Resolution Foundation flags potential £50bn public spending gulf ahead of scheduled cuts to departmental budgets

Department-sponsored study flags move as part of wider reform of franchising system

MPs tell DCLG and DWP to commission research on leveraging housing benefit payments to ease the housing crisis

Academics say giving NHS patients access to unapproved medication was a “significant expenditure” that delivered “no meaningful value”

Institute for Government report draws lessons from global take-up of Blair-era innovation

National Audit Office investigation finds £120m-plus spent in south-east has so far led to just one train operator introducing flexible part-time season tickets

Government Legal Department director targets multi-million pound efficiencies

“Streamlined” use of delegated powers will be used to correct and update EU law onto the UK statute books