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Figures from mid-point of the applications window, highlighted by the Social Mobility Commission, suggest applications from working class candidates have risen sharply

Former Cabinet Office minister says he "very much" doubts more staff will be needed for Brexit and says departments can "reallocate" existing officials – as Downing Street claims leaked memo may be an attempt by consultants to win business

Next week's set piece fiscal statement will not include extra resources to cope with Brexit, according to a memo leaked to The Times

National Audit Office flags "fundamental weaknesses" in Defence Infrastructure Organisation deal with Capita and says the Ministry of Defence faces a "huge challenge" in funding its estate programme

HMRC says Concentrix staff moving in-house are being given fresh training, as it confirms earlier-than-planned end to controversial fraud and error deal

Debate over the future of the Government Digital Service continues as former senior official in charge of the Digital Marketplace warns of a "lack of vision, lack of ambition and lack of any sort of a plan"

Cabinet Office lays amended redundancy scheme before parliament after key unions back a deal – but the Public and Commercial Services union says refusal to extend deadline was an "unnecessary and spiteful insult"

Making a success of Brexit does not mean UK should ditch its reputation as a "free, tolerant, outward facing society", says former Foreign Office permanent secretary

Cabinet secretary seeks to take on claims that the civil service was biased in the EU referendum campaign and under-prepared in the aftermath of the vote

Iraq inquiry chair tells MPs that senior officials must "insist on their right to be heard and to record what their advice is" if they are to learn the lessons of the Iraq invasion

The UK in a Changing Europe​ says there will be "tensions if there is any further bifurcation of salaries in Whitehall" as a result of the drive to recruit specialists for Britain's EU exit. Meanwhile, Cabinet Office confirms Brexit-focused civil service-wide resource review is starting with the Senior civil Service

Union for civil service specialists say 83.99% of members who took part voted to accept the government's offer on redundancy pay, with FDA result imminent and PCS arguing for extension of Cabinet Office deadline

Riddell says he has received “indications” that the government will consult his watchdog on its choice of panel members and drawing up new governance code for public appointments

HMRC chief says he will have "something to announce within the next few working days" about end of contract with US outsourcing firm, and says company "simply didn’t put enough people" on tax credit inquiry lines

National Audit Office says GDS now getting on better with Defra after subsidies fiasco – but announces wider probe into effectiveness of the central digital team

Financial services director moves upwards in the Treasury, and faces in-tray set to be dominated by the UK's decision to quit the European Union

Acoba suggests "senior, independent, board-level oversight" could help ensure compliance with rules governing post-Whitehall careers of former officials and ministers

Former Troubled Families tsar hits back after government-commissioned analysis casts doubt on the success of the flagship social policy scheme

Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee welcomes review of staff appraisal system, and says new inquiry will put a heavy emphasis on leadership skills in the civil service

Public and Commercial Services union hits out at "reprehensible" changes to redundancy pay, and says it will urge members to reject the Cabinet Office's final offer

The Public Accounts Committee says the government's latest plan to cut costs by sharing back office functions has failed to learn the lessons of previous attempts

Civil service chief John Manzoni (pictured) and Treasury perm sec Tom Scholar say annual updates to the much-criticised Single Departmental Plans will address "big elephant" of Britain's exit from the EU

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy permanent secretary tells MPs that overall financial envelope for the combined energy and business ministry "hasn't yet been resolved" – and says he hopes majority of merger complete by March

Appointments watchdog Acoba says Kingman had "no direct role in most policies that affected" Legal and General during his time at the Treasury

Prospect and FDA call on members to accept Cabinet Office's deal ahead of October 31 deadline – as PCS executive committee prepares to meet to discuss next steps

As the civil service tries to put meat on the bones of its social mobility strategy, Matt Foster meets the people trying to make the organisation more welcoming to staff from working class backgrounds – and shake off Whitehall’s “white, male and Oxbridge” image for good

Fast Stream assessment now much more focused on "real-life work scenarios", says Gillian Smith, after report warns of lack of working class representation in the scheme

New ONS stats show 8% rise in female representation at SCS level since 2008

Civil service chief executive says final, revised offer to trade unions on redundancy pay cuts will "simplify the exit process, while treating our employees respectfully and fairly"

As the Cabinet Office makes its final offer to unions on planned reform of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, CSW's Matt Foster takes a detailed look at the key changes to redundancy terms

Full details and reaction from the PCS, FDA and Prospect Unions as the Cabinet Office makes its final offer on fresh reform of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme

The FDA union argues that appointment of Cameron's former chief of staff Ed Llewellyn "undermines the principles of selection on merit"

Offer to unions on civil service redundancy shake-up could come as early as today, CSW understands, as Treasury sets out broader reform "framework"

HMRC chief Jon Thompson (pictured) says reorganising four existing lines of business into a more simplified structure will ensure that HMRC is "fit for the future" – as union says there is "nervousness" among some staff over timing of the changes

Cabinet secretary says call from senior officials to let top civil servants go public with concerns would introduce a "degree of antagonism between the cabinet secretary and the prime minister"

Cabinet secretary says row over lack of Whitehall planning for a Leave vote is an "odd debate" – and confirms that "thinking" on Brexit took place in the final 28-day push of the campaign