Kate Forrester

Government has ‘misread the mood of the country’ on free school meals says ex-PACAC chair
26 Oct 2020 Education
Government has ‘misread the mood of the country’ on free school meals says ex-PACAC chair
Bernard Jenkin says PM’s refusal to extend scheme had become ‘a touchstone of how little faith a lot of people now have in the government's conduct’
Hancock unveils mass-testing trial as workers urged to return to offices
03 Sep 2020 Coronavirus
Hancock unveils mass-testing trial as workers urged to return to offices
Health secretary pledges extra £500m to fund innovations including “rapid” tests that give results in 20 minutes
Coronavirus: Failure to toughen border measures made pandemic 'much worse', MPs say
05 Aug 2020 Coronavirus
Coronavirus: Failure to toughen border measures made pandemic 'much worse', MPs say
Committee told up to 10,000 people with Covid-19 entered or returned to the country in March
Ex-civil service chief Bob Kerslake drafted in for major Labour review as Starmer eyes internal shake-up
30 Jul 2020 Politics & Constitution
Ex-civil service chief Bob Kerslake drafted in for major Labour review as Starmer eyes internal shake-up
Review will look at how the party can become "a more agile, cohesive and purposeful organisation"
Coronavirus: Foreign Office ‘too slow‘ to repatriate Brits stranded abroad when pandemic hit
28 Jul 2020 Coronavirus
Coronavirus: Foreign Office ‘too slow‘ to repatriate Brits stranded abroad when pandemic hit
MPs praise staff for work in “challenging conditions" of Covid-19
Downing Street defends 'back to work' push for civil servants after PCS slams ‘unacceptable’ plan
28 Jul 2020 HR
Downing Street defends 'back to work' push for civil servants after PCS slams ‘unacceptable’ plan
PM spokesman says each department will need to provide assurance that government workplaces are Covid-secure
Universal Credit claims could cost government as much as the benefits it replaced, watchdog finds
10 Jul 2020 Operational Delivery
Universal Credit claims could cost government as much as the benefits it replaced, watchdog finds
DWP must do more to support vulnerable claimants, NAO says in latest report
Benefit sanctions to be reintroduced as DWP prepares to reopen jobcentes
30 Jun 2020 Operational Delivery
Benefit sanctions to be reintroduced as DWP prepares to reopen jobcentes
Work and pensions secretary tells MPs that over 17,000 DWP officials are now working remotely
Home Office to spell out plan to implement full Windrush review before summer
24 Jun 2020 Foreign Affairs
Home Office to spell out plan to implement full Windrush review before summer

Home secretary pledges to ensure Home Office “fundamentally shifts its way of working” after report
Coronavirus has slowed removal of deadly Grenfell-style cladding even further, watchdog warns
19 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Coronavirus has slowed removal of deadly Grenfell-style cladding even further, watchdog warns

MHCLG “had not assessed how its timeframe for completing remediation would be affected” by Covid-19
Scrapping DfID would undermine global Covid-19 fight, MPs warn Boris Johnson
09 Jun 2020 Civil Service Reform
Scrapping DfID would undermine global Covid-19 fight, MPs warn Boris Johnson

Report comes amid renewed speculation about possible merger with the Foreign Office after appointment of joint ministerial team
Coffey reveals DWP hiring plans as part of coronavirus response
03 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Coffey reveals DWP hiring plans as part of coronavirus response

Work and pensions secretary says that department will look to increase work coach numbers to help people back to work
Stats watchdog says DHSC coronavirus testing figures ‘inadequate’
02 Jun 2020 Health & Social Care
Stats watchdog says DHSC coronavirus testing figures ‘inadequate’

Sir David Norgrove says he understands the pressures faced by staff but adds “I am sure you would agree that good evidence is essential to success in containing the virus”
‘Unfair and unnecessary’ to quiz top officials in Cummings row, says Johnson
29 May 2020 Government Tax Profession
‘Unfair and unnecessary’ to quiz top officials in Cummings row, says Johnson

PM steps in to stop chief science and medial officers from answering press questions on top adviser’s lockdown trips
Matt Hancock hails 'biggest step forward' since coronavirus crisis began as he reveals new treatment trial
27 May 2020 Government Tax Profession
Matt Hancock hails 'biggest step forward' since coronavirus crisis began as he reveals new treatment trial

Tests of antiviral medication remdesivir to begin