Commercial

It took departments 119 days on average to publish details of contracts

Troubled background-checking agency appoints local authority boss to top job

CCS issues contract notice for £380m online system

DfID in the firing line as candidates seek to win support for leadership bids

Figures show that spending on outside firms has risen to £1.5bn in 2017-18, up from a low of £346m in 2011-12

Plan addresses the "oft cited issue of pay disparity between internally and externally recruited senior civil servants"

Union says members have reported pay errors since ISS World took over support services contract in March

NAO report also reveals the department considered it was unlikely to be able defend any action against it for breaching procurement rules

Companies are being paid between up to £6m each for services relating to IT, accounting and auditing work

Move comes as government at winds down emergency no-deal Brexit planning

Stagecoach says that leak of its plans for East Midlands franchise requires further investigation

Steven Boyd, who oversaw phase of government's Hubs Programme, will take over in June

Budget Committee could prevent fiascos like NHS IT programme, says Public Accounts Committee veteran

Dutch government-owned Abellio will take over East Midlands franchise

Government says it's "not the case" that it takes outsourcers at their word when they say they're providing high-quality accommodation

Courts programme boosts justice department's consultants bill

Transport secretary admits government can't recover Eurotunnel payout if no-deal Brexit is avoided

Cabinet secretary admits he was "always uneasy" about the Home Office's overly ambitious ESN programme but insists it's not a failure

Prisons minister says state "better placed" to retain control of HMP Birmingham after stepping in last year

Department for Transport insists “HS2 is happening" as release of funds delayed

Probation services would be 'safer' under public ownership, chief inspector says

Department says ‘starchitect’-designed residence for consul general will help promote British business

Department for Transport-funded services start as one firm says "there is no turning back at this late stage"

Commercial skills still lacking in some departments, Reform report finds