Government Tax Profession

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

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

The official view: Clare Short spent six years as Tony Blair's international development secretary. Here she tells us about motivating officials, how her private secretary snuck her into a global trade conference, and why the civil service must pay "fair wages" to its staff

PM highlights achievements of Whitehall's digital team as he argues government has "moral imperative" to "streamline" public services

Number 10 stands by decision not to suspend the Northern Ireland Executive following resignation of NI first minister Peter Robinson

Royal United Services Institute says protection of Ministry of Defence budget alone may not be enough to safeguard against wider threats

Lin Homer tells MPs on the Public Accounts Committee that HMRC's "most basic" jobs will continue to be cut as department reduces number of sites across UK

Culture secretary tells MPs budget cuts will lead to “difficult decisions” for DCMS but department not in “any danger” of disappearing