Commercial

Public Accounts Committee calls for forensic audit of spending at UK Trade & Investment after concluding contractor took advantage of arm’s-length body

Rise in spending through aid outsourcing has turned DfID into a commissioning department, say MPs

DfE-owned LocatED will be “Britain’s biggest property start-up”, while the Education Funding Agency and the Skills Funding Agency will be merged

Compensation to firms hits nearly £100m due to botched deal, says business secretary Greg Clark

Centralised purchasing body still needs to develop full business case, according to committee

Justice secretary confirms move as planning permission sought for four new jails

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 

Auditor general says he has support for plan from Whitehall permanent secretaries

Davinder Mann promoted to lead operations at business-aiding agency

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

DCLG confirms it is also ditching the use of the phrase "turned around" to describe families who have been subject to interventions under the programme

Public Accounts Committee says accountability system for major electrification programme was too complex, and casts doubt on cost estimates even after £1.2bn increase

Report claims Sir Jeremy Heywood secured extra £250m for health service with ultimatum

UK Government Investments – which leads on the management and privatisation of state assets – seeks new director

Some staff are still uncertain about joining the GCO, Institute for Government researchers find, though the reforms to improve commercial capability are already making an impact

HMRC confirms it will look again at tax credits withdrawn by the US contractor

Fresh data flags more modest year-on-year savings, as Cabinet Office acknowledges that larger efficiencies "will only be achieved by total service transformation"

Total running costs fell by over 7% in 2015-16, Cabinet Office says, as it readies launch of "New Property Model" to charge departments rent on their holdings

FDA and Prospect argue enhanced salaries but thin pension offer for staff in the new Government Commercial Organisation will deter civil service interest and fail to attract real private sector talent

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

Exclusive: Cabinet secretary says reform agenda remains "strongly supported by ministers" after several key Francis Maude-era initiatives are scrapped, but stresses focus on "embedding leadership at a departmental level"

Estates strategy proposes opening five new large service centres and 50 shared-site operations