Commercial

PWC partner Charles Lloyd shares his experience of life in Whitehall – and the different style of governments in the Middle East – in a regular Q&A with people who’ve crossed organisational and sectoral boundaries to join a new working world

Tom Read leaves chief technology officer job at the Cabinet Office as CTO brief is rolled into new chief digital officer role

Thirty three companies take the lion’s share of central government procurement spending, between them receiving roughly £10bn of Whitehall money each year. But who are they? Do they truly understand the public sector? And do civil servants trust them? Rebecca Sims-Robinson crunches the numbers.

The National Audit Office finds no evidence that Capita inflated management fees or deliberately delayed payments to suppliers in Civil Service Learning contract, but watchdog does not pass judgement on overall value for money of the scheme. CSW looks at the report's key findings

Cabinet Office says contracts for private firms running public services will include 'presumption in favour of disclosing information' to the public

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude says £11bn of £20bn annual Whitehall efficiency drive identified, but Labour warns of little room for more 'back office efficiencies' 

MPs on the Public Accounts Committee warn commercial skills gap at Defence Equipment and Support will undermine MoD efforts to reduce costs if not addressed

Government Digital Service to work with local government in major extension of its remit

Amendment to Civil Service Code over contact with the media sparks transparency row with trade unions FDA and PCS, but Cabinet Office says it is providing clarity

George Osborne has delivered the final Budget of the Parliament at 12.30. Follow all the reaction here with live coverage from our colleagues at PoliticsHome.

NAO chief Amyas Morse warns officials may not be thinking through implications of spending reductions

MPs on the Public Administration Committee warn Capability Plan focus too 'narrow' and mid-management skills being 'hollowed out'

Departments tell National Audit Office cross-government working would be bolstered by better 'support and challenge' at the centre of government

Ministers announce low emissions vehicles to be added to government transport fleet

Think tank RUSI says UK unlikely to meet 2% Nato target

Independent Commission for Aid Impact says security and justice work lacks focus, but praises more targeted efforts in Malawi and Bangladesh

Sale of 40% stake in continental rail link set to beat projection and raise more than £750m

Solent Gateway Limited named as MoD favourite to manage military port near Southampton

Labour rounds on Home Office over investigation into Serco-run detention centre

Officials tell MPs the MoD has "locked in" £2.3bn of planned £4.1bn savings from support budget

New figures from the Cabinet Office show SMEs have benefited from £11.4bn of government contracts 

The civil service’s first chief executive has an ambitious agenda to define the next era of Whitehall reform – whatever those “damn politicians” might be planning. Jess Bowie meets him

Government should focus on working with mutuals and cooperatives rather than outsourcing to private firms, says Jon Cruddas

The government is to undertake further consultation on proposed new laws aimed at requiring public sector bodies to accept electronic invoices, after a consultation raised fears over costs