Legal

Senior Tory backbencher joins former Treasury solicitor Sir Paul Jenkins in questioning removal of reference to international law

Analysis: What does the tax credits defeat in the House of Lords mean for the government's legislative programme – and are civil servants ready for the fallout?

Ministers vow to "sort out the relationship between the Commons and the Lords" after government forced into tax credits rethink

Labour asks the NAO to look into Just Solutions International

Cabinet Office says amended ministerial code continues to account for international conduct – but Sir Paul Jenkins warns of "contempt for the rule of international law"

Former cabinet secretary and head of the civil service clashes with Lib Dem chief whip over plans to obstruct tax credit cuts in the House of Lords

Institute for Government finds it is "much harder than it should be" to establish evidence base for public policymaking – and launches new tool to help officials

Public Accounts Committee chair Meg Hillier questions MoJ's "management of taxpayers’ money" – but MoJ points to savings made from the closure

Diplomatic source says “more likely” move to curb benefits will result in restrictions lasting “months rather than years”

More say over Assembly procedures, energy and transport promised in Draft Wales Bill

Home secretary says it is right that cabinet ministers are "not making comments" on Heathrow's third runway until final government decision

EVEL plans should be "piloted on statutory instruments"; pension freedoms could be putting savers at risk – the latest from the House of Commons select committees

Investigatory Powers Tribunal says Wilson Doctrine has 'no legal effect'

Interim chief inspector of probation Paul Wilson tells CSW he is optimistic about the 'Transforming Rehabilitation' scheme – but warns over “more for less” culture

Justice secretary Michael Gove tells MPs that Just Solutions International – the commercial arm of the National Offender Management Service – will abandon deal to advise Saudi Arabia on running of prisons

David Mundell says "top up" payment will herald "new era of devolution"

Sheffield City Region Combined Authority will get transport, planning and skills powers

Freedom of Information has been a "very big positive" in spite of "chilling effects", says Cabinet secretary

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

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

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

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

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

More than 30 Tories side against government to defeat change to rules on use of official resources in run-up to the European Union vote