Fraud, Error Debt & Grants

Cabinet Office report finds that Whitehall's move to digital happened at different rates in different departments, meaning information management was not properly re-assessed

Watchdog cites failure to get Treasury agreement for scheme's lifetime funding as contributing factor to the cancellation of a £100m competition

Gordon Brown's former strategy chief and easyJet CEO among additions to new department's board 

Rob Behrens tells MPs that office relocation and merged operations with local government counterpart can fund investment in complaints handlers

With a snap election looming after the Northern Ireland executive was brought down by a scandal over renewable heat incentives,  Alan Bermingham explores the governance and public finance implications of the Stormont crisis 

Minister Ben Gummer says his department is working with the Civil Service Commission to unwind coalition-era reforms – but questions remain over fate of staff already brought into government

Comes after supplier Concentrix "consistently failed to achieve more than half of its performance targets" during first year of its tax credit checks contract

Cabinet Office-commissioned study backs the “default presumption of full-cost recovery” for regulatory activities

ACOBA approves return to Suffolk County Council for review of councillor remuneration

Scheme delivers strong value for money and has exceeded targets, Independent Commission for Aid Impact says, but officials could do more to help national governments improve the way cash is delivered

Internal message to HM Revenue & Customs staff – seen by CSW – acknowledges that its estate overhaul will save less than expected, but dismisses talk of a major rethink as "just wrong"

NAO chief says it is time for the department to “step back and consider” its estates strategy as HMRC acknowledges its plans to close most offices will take longer, cost more, and save less than expected

First Civil Service Commissioner Ian Watmore seeks team "to help get the best people into the top civil service jobs"

Guidance refresh deletes entire section on creation of “Extended Ministerial Offices”

Public Appointments Commissioner concedes that not all of his Grimstone Review tweak proposals have been adopted

 Public Service Ombudsman would ditch the much-criticised "MP filter" and let members of the public make direct complaints about services

MPs call on government to commission independent review into tax-credit compliance processes

MP calls for further investigation into a contract between UKTI and a consultancy firm which was cancelled after officials raised concerns over invoicing

Exclusive: Ian Watmore tells CSW he is "absolutely convinced" that the current crop of ministers "wants to preserve Northcote-Travelyan" model of an impartial civil service, as he sets out focus on diversity, skills and leadership

Mark Leftly reports on growing support among parliament's influential select committees to let MPs "blackball" ministers' choices for key public sector jobs

Aid watchdog hands international development department an amber/red rating for its exit and transition work, but DfID disputes the "rushed" report

HMRC says Concentrix staff moving in-house are being given fresh training, as it confirms earlier-than-planned end to controversial fraud and error deal

Public Accounts Committee move follows National Audit Office concerns over £434m “private sector support” and other costs in annual accounts

Latest National Fraud Initiative report shows 37% fall in properties recovered