Finance

Cabinet secretary says greater use of automation will allow for better rates 

High Court move will challenge government’s failure to reduce contributions following firefighters' ruling

Report blasts "incomplete and inaccurate" understanding of conditions and flags £916m backlog of major repairs

Mark Thurston leads ranking for second year running as John Manzoni and Mark Sedwill well down list

Appointment will replace Robert Chote, who has led fiscal watchdog since 2010

Watchdog says keenness to proceed with Liverpool project led to deal being struck before construction failings were known

Overhaul would mean tax taper would "rightly affect high earners such as bankers", not doctors, air traffic controllers and fire officials, union says

National Audit Office flags lack of measurable objectives and impact evaluation in department’s £2.4bn-a-year portfolio of help

Pledge made in agreement restoring power sharing at Stormont

Central Square offices will house 4,000 civil servants by end of the year

BEIS secretary Andrea Leadsom says departments across government have worked to agree the deal in an incredibly short timeframe

Officials failed to learn lessons as cost of projects rockets by 115%, NAO says

Manager set up monthly payments to his own business for made-up IT services contract

Chancellor pledges to 'unleash Britain’s potential' with statement expected to set out spending plan after UK’s exit from the EU

Morse’s recommendation to cut ten years from controversial claw-back window accepted by the Treasury

Shadow chancellor also confirms plan to hold February budget “to end austerity in social security and public services”

Biggest civil service union targets Marsham Street after £3m DWP payout

PCS, the biggest civil service union, blames "maladminstration" for payment errors

Government announces country will continue to take part in key programmes

Figures in Labour and Conservative manifestos could give an "unclear impression" of future spending on schools, UKSA says

Parties “seem all too willing to bend or even break their own fiscal rules before they’ve even got started”, report finds

Party’s spending pledge on pay for public servants intended to “undo the damage caused” by pay cap, says Jeremy Corbyn

Manifesto pledges include resurrecting department for climate change and creating a chief secretary for sustainability role in HM Treasury

Tax agency offers tips to avoid scams ahead of 31 January deadline