Security & Defence

Prime minister leads parliament in paying tribute to those affected

MPs warn that contract with Capita-led consortium has "failed to transform" Defence Infrastructure Organisation, and continued uncertainty will exacerbate ongoing recruitment challenges at the body set up to manage £31bn defence estate 

Cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood among those to welcome appointment to top security post

National Audit Office says department’s attempts to address delays have compressed its Carrier Strike delivery schedule and “added risk with limited contingency”

PACAC slams the “absence of safeguards” to ensure prime ministers do not bypass proper cabinet procedures,  and urges government to publish the lessons it has learned from Chilcot Inquiry

Fledgling ministry offers £90,000 a year for senior officer to deliver “single device” for international trade staff to work with

With the appointment of Mark Sedwill, Britain is now on its fourth national security adviser since 2010. Dr Joe Devanny asks whether such churn at the top really makes for effective government

Cressida Dick set to leave Foreign Office director general role to return to policing

Westminster City Council approves proposals for Whitehall landmark despite heritage concerns

Government rejects think tank's calculations which suggest the UK missed target to spend 2% of GDP on defence thanks to unexpectedly strong economic growth

Whitehall insider-turned-academic Richard Mottram says EU referendum and its aftermath underscores the uphill struggle of speaking truth to power

Single Source Regulations Office seeks greater oversight of contracts for non-competitive military goods

Appointments watchdog gives Air Marshal Sir Simon Bollom green light to set up consultancy and accept commissions – one of which involves MoD project

Ministry of Defence perm sec Stephen Lovegrove offers "expertise" to DExEU as Whitehall readies for Brexit – but downplays impact of European Union departure on the MoD's own work

The map of Whitehall has changed considerably in the months since Stephen Lovegrove left the Department of Energy and Climate Change to become Ministry of Defence perm sec. He tells Colin Marrs about the Brexit help his department can offer, the MoD’s role in boosting Britain’s industry and the staffing cuts he’s tasked with making. Photos by Paul Heartfield

Cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood praises outgoing intelligence chief – who tells ministers he is resigning for personal reasons – for his decades of "dedicated public service"

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) chief executive Oliver Morley takes part in our annual perm secs round-up​

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Stephen Lovegrove, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence, kicks off our annual perm secs round-up​

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

Public Accounts Committee move follows National Audit Office concerns over £434m “private sector support” and other costs in annual accounts

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

Confirmed: MoD's chief information officer Mike Stone to leave in March next year

Foreign secretary Boris Johnson’s first select committee grilling provides laughs and helpful sketches of flags, but little policy insight

Former Highways England boss Graham Dalton joins Ministry of Defence’s property division