Government Tax Profession

Civil service will get smaller, says Cabinet secretary — but number of departments will “probably” stay the same

Minister for the Cabinet Office unveils plans for "digital fellowship" exchange on visit to Silicon Valley with government's CTO Liam Maxwell

"This is the start of regaining control of the IT estate," says outgoing DVLA digital chief Iain Patterson, as agency moves services back in-house

Defence secretary tells RUSI think tank that the latest cross-government defence strategy will be "positive, assertive and quite properly strategic"

Cabinet secretary Jeremy Heywood unveils new external diversity advisers

MoJ digital services manager Gavin Bell shares insight into government’s digital challenges as he steps down from role for private sector post

Management consultants looking at "operating costs across the department and partner organisations", says business secretary, but none "working directly" on its response to the Spending Review

National Audit Office to investigate decision to grant £3m to beleaguered charity after warning from then-Cabinet Office perm sec Richard Heaton

Latest report by the public accounts committee warns police could bear brunt of "cost shunting" by other departments, but Home Office says it is working on reforms to make the system more "fair, robust and transparent"

Tim Kelsey to step down as NHS England’s national director for patients and information

Amber Rudd defends "incredibly important department" as Tory backbencher says merger with Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) being considered

MI5 director general Andrew Parker gives first live interview to "increase understanding" of intelligence agency's work – and suggests social media firms have an "ethical responsibility" to report terror concerns

Workforce shrinks by 8,000 posts – with GovCos and privatisations accounting for much of the change

Director general for civil service reform to take up post as Home Office’s second permanent secretary, with responsibility for immigration and free movement

Robert Chote – reappointed as chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility watchdog – says he is "relaxed" about Treasury suggesting changes to its independent forecasts

Simon McDonald tells MPs it would be "illogical to focus fire on the FCO" in November's Spending Review

Former attorney general – and recent critic of government's human rights plans – elected to lead the Intelligence and Security Committee

When members of the public want to complain about government bodies, it falls to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to investigate. Sarah Aston speaks to the watchdog's newly-appointed non-executive directors Julia Tabreham and Ruth Sawtell about efforts to simplify the system, and change the perception that complaining doesn't make a difference

PCS and Prospect members at the Natural Environment Research Council take half-day action over 1% cap and progression pay move

Lord Macdonald tells File on 4 that policy and legal advice functions will “suffer” amid squeeze on resources – but current director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders praises "dedicated" staff

Trade Union Bill easily clears latest hurdle in the Commons, as TUC warns of impact on “productivity, pay and demand”

Labour's new leader promotes Lucy Powell to shadow education

Select committee to question OBR's Robert Chote after e-mails show Treasury seeks changes to wording of draft forecast

Speed of MoJ's responses to Freedom of Information requests comes under scrutiny from the Information Commissioner's Office