Commercial

Transformation programme director Michael Beaven takes up post with private firm after four years at the Government Digital Service

Successful bidders for government contracts will see agreed commitments to apprentice recruitment written into contracts above £10m from next month

Crown Commercial Service says extension of licensing deal with Oracle lays the foundation of a “more collaborative” relationship

Outgoing digital chief Mike Bracken cites "stresses and strains" of the job – but says Government as a Platform plans still being assessed

Cabinet Office says departure of the government's digital chief will prompt rethink of the "best structure for the next phase of digital transformation"

Civil service chief executive talks up Single Departmental Plans, saying they will offer "single, clear roadmap" for managing resources ahead of the Spending Review

Cabinet Office announces that Bill Crothers – who oversaw the set-up of the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) – is to leave post, with search for successor already underway

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

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

Outgoing Foreign Office permanent secretary stresses the need for “balance” between the centre of government and individual departments ahead of further reforms

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

Follow all the action as chancellor George Osborne delivers his latest Budget

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

Report by the National Audit Office says centre of government must do more to ensure departments make better use of information about outsourced public services, including standardising data and improving Whitehall skills

Government Digital Service chief Mike Bracken says government still on a "journey" in encouraging citizens to opt for online transactions with the state

Business secretary tells MPs that flagship coalition project will be moved out of the public sector to allow it to borrow more and "grow its business"

Cabinet secretary says Civil Service Awards provide rare opportunity for “boasting” about achievements

Report by the NAO says departments have often failed to set out rationale for use of payment-by-results mechanisms

Minister for the Cabinet Office Matt Hancock says new "implementation taskforces" recognise the need for cross-government working, but stresses the need for accountability

Telecoms firms withdraws from key part of the Emergency Services Network bidding process

GDS confirms Digital Services framework will be overhauled after user feedback

With longstanding public accounts committee chair Margaret Hodge announcing that she won't be seeking another five years at the helm of parliament's powerful cross-party spending watchdog, Civil Service World asked the three Labour MPs hoping to succeed her why they want the job, and whether they think the committee's treatment of officials needs to change

New minister for the Cabinet Office Matt Hancock has set out his stall for five more years of civil service reform. Here's our full report on how it unfolded