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Labour's new leader promotes Lucy Powell to shadow education

Speed of MoJ's responses to Freedom of Information requests comes under scrutiny from the Information Commissioner's Office

Lin Homer tells MPs on the Public Accounts Committee that HMRC's "most basic" jobs will continue to be cut as department reduces number of sites across UK

Former head of the civil service tells chancellor at Lords committee hearing that he believes argument for running a surplus is a "smokescreen" for a smaller state

DfE perm sec tells MPs on the Public Accounts committee that Care Leavers Strategy – sharply criticised by the spending watchdog – marks "very important step" in improving support for young people leaving care system

Tory MPs could rebel after government offers concessions on EU referendum vote "purdah" period

Care Quality Commission chief David Behan tells NHS Innovation Expo that public reassurance vital after data on patients attending sexual health treatment centre accidentally shared

Current GDS chief operating officer Stephen Foreshew-Cain "stepping up to lead" the service – with four more leaders moving on

Public and Commercial Services union makes "strong representations" to tax authority about "timescale and process" of 90-day talks, which department says may result in compulsory redundancies

Exclusive: Tax authority says it will aim to "avoid the need for compulsory redundancies" when 90-day process opens next week

Government Digital Services chief Mike Bracken – who is leaving the unit in September – to become chief digital officer at the Co-op group

Unionised civil servants to lose right to automatic payroll deduction of fees - known as “check-off” - under plans set out by Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock

Redundancy pay cap unveiled by ministers – but unions warn of impact on workforce management

As director general of the powerful Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat, it’s the job of Antonia Romeo to make sure Cabinet decisions don’t get lost in the Whitehall machine. Matt Foster meets her

Union – which currently represents the most senior tiers of the civil service – launches new organisation aiming to expand into HEO and SEO grades

Philip Hammond tells MPs that while Treasury's 25% and 40% cuts call likely to be "aspirational", FCO must make "strategic" savings

Treasury says spending review - set for November 25 - will be a chance to "review the role of government"

Annual report from the Civil Service Commission says senior civil service pay curbs could lead to loss of "some of the most talented" officials

BIS and DfE urged to take "strategic" action over struggling colleges, while separate report confirms that the Skills Funding Agency's accounts have been qualified

PCS members in two-day walkout over "oppressive" Universal Credit working conditions, but department says plans in place for "smooth running" of the service

Former Treasury perm sec Lord Burns to review Freedom of Information laws and consider "safe space" argument, while Cabinet Office takes over responsibility for FOI from the Ministry of Justice

Letters published on Thursday night show that Cabinet Office perm sec sought rare ministerial direction over fresh grant to the charity, but Matt Hancock and Oliver Letwin say they had agreed "clear conditions" for the funding

Department for Work and Pensions accounts qualified again as NAO says fraud and error in the benefits system "remains unacceptably high"

Prime minister urges Whitehall officials to make communications "brief, simple, human and jargon-free"

PAC chair Meg Hillier accuses the DCLG perm sec of "sophistry" as Melanie Dawes seeks to explain communities department's handling of scheme to free up public land for new homes

Justice secretary stresses that departmental non-execs – designed to sharpen outside scrutiny of Whitehall – are ministerial appointments, after overseeing shake-up of MoJ board

Former health secretary says top civil servant's judgement "open to question" as MPs launch inquiry into "purdah" rule change ahead of EU vote

Chancellor uses first Conservative-only Budget to announce four more years of public sector pay restraint

"Robespierre terror" of Public Accounts Committee under former chair Margaret Hodge will be copied by more MPs, former health secretary warns officials

Future Reserves 2020 moves from "Amber/Red" to "Red" rating in Major Projects Authority's latest assessment, but Ministry of Defence says scheme "on schedule to realise its benefits"

Report by the National Audit Office says Cabinet Office’s Talent Action Plan on Whitehall diversity needs measures “to track progress and help sustain momentum”

BIS perm sec Martin Donnelly requests rare "letter of direction" from minister Sajid Javid after raising value-for-money concerns over plan to gift extra shares to Royal Mail staff

Philip Hammond says campaigning to stay in a reformed Europe is "clear" government position

Number 10 spokesperson denies new units tracking policy progress are a "judgement on the civil service"

Lord Kerslake, former head of the civil service, says it is "highly doubtful" government can secure like-for-like replacement of housing association properties sold off under new scheme

FDA and PCS unions sound the alarm over proposals to end "six figure" public sector redundancy pay