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After three years as chief executive of the UK body for overseas cultural relations, Devane talks to Tamsin Rutter about its relationship with government, funding challenges and how Brexit has changed his priorities

Committee to investigate after government “flatly rejected” proposals to beef up the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

Cabinet secretary responds to Lord Lawson’s criticism that officials want to “frustrate the Brexit process”

MPs urge government to scrap immigration target and introduce annual migration report

Select committee chair Frank Field told DWP that he could not guarantee the universal credit reports he has obtained will remain confidential 

Government claims 10-year plan to converge back office services will save millions of pounds

Auditor general Amyas Morse confirms scrutiny plans following request from Treasury committee chair Nicky Morgan

Former justice secretary does not take ‘first secretary of state’ title while Esther McVey named new work and pensions secretary

NAO report warns of stiff competition in recruitment and department’s funding and workload challenges

NAO investigates why department was forced to redraw contracts and increase projected payments to CRCs by £342m

MPs slam department’s weak oversight after company made unauthorised redundancy payouts totalling £1.76m

Public appointment commissioner lauds progress on gender diversity but brands record for disabled people “inadequate”

Automation can create jobs with the right policies in place, deputy leader Tom Watson says in new report

Think tank report on public inquiries finds lack of formal guidance, procedures and scrutiny measures

Whitehall’s chief executive says thousands of civil servants have already been moved into Brexit roles, with around a quarter coming from outside government

Tax agency has signed a 25-year lease on London office for 3,800 staff

DExEU perm sec insists analysis has “huge value” despite criticism that it does not amount to full impact assessments

Former Cabinet Office minister told MPs he became disillusioned with civil service skills and repeats call for basic training

Department for Education insists process was followed with regard to Steve Lamey, who alleges a “witch hunt”

Government claims better use of location data produced by public bodies could grow the economy by £11bn a year

Dave Penman condemns “cowardly move” of politicians criticising DWP official instead of ministers 

Trade unions blast chancellor for failing to alleviate pressure on the civil service as it delivers Brexit

New measures will reduce lag on claimants' receipt of benefits payments from six weeks to five

GLD is hiring lawyers from the north of England to work in new regional centre

Top government officials detail list of changes to 85 IT systems at the UK border required because of Brexit

Civil service poll shows a more engaged workforce but analysis of the figures shows up several pockets of dissatisfaction

FCO wants a greater share of the UK aid budget and a stronger role leading foreign policy, officials tell MPs

New analysis by the IPPR think tank reveals that a public sector pay rise in line with inflation would return £2.5bn to public coffers

Amyas Morse tells MPs that ministerial directions are too rare and departments must re-prioritise ahead of Brexit

PCS union survey finds 99% of members want government to scrap public sector pay cap

Reform think tank argues for greater devolution of powers to buy healthcare, employment, skills and offender management services

Civil service among organisations leading the way in Disability Confident scheme

UK’s chief negotiator tells MPs department is in ‘good homework mode’ as Liam Fox confirms 734 new hires since February

Justice secretary asks officials to commence “post-implementation review” that was promised when reforms were introduced in 2012