Legal

Treasury analysis and rejection of pre-election contact prompt criticism by Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon

Departmental budgets, the Highways Agency and Gus O'Donnell on the Queen's VE day plans make our regular round-up of Whitehall in the headlines

Pre-election access, MoD spending and the future of RBS all feature in our regular round-up of Whitehall in the news

Attorney general's deputy legal secretary set to follow Michael Fuller in inspecting prosecutor's work

Lord Justice Beatson rejects claim justice secretary exceeded his powers, but says 'no permission, no payment' rules could cause law firms to be driven by 'financial safety'

John Bercow has warned that Parliament could be abandoned unless significant investment is made to renovate and repair the building over the next decade.

Prime minister David Cameron set to unveil new measures to crack down on child sexual exploitation

Home Affairs Select Committee calls for extension of abuse inquiry to cover all of the UK 

Home secretary announces new chair of abuse inquiry, which will now have statutory powers 

Paul McDowell quits following concerns over bidding contracts with his wife’s company

The Ministry of Justice’s commercial arm bids for contract with Saudi Arabian Prison Service

Alison Saunders defends plans after lawyers warn against new guidelines 

Commons leader William Hague has insisted plans to restrict voting on English issues to English MPs will not hold up further plans for Scotland

Cultural change in the civil service proves to be the Red Tape Challenge’s silver lining according to Reform

The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) has appointed four new board members, it was announced on Monday 8 December.

The Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) decision to close the Independent Living Fund (ILF) for disabled people was ruled lawful by the High Court, on Monday 8 December. 

The Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act is on track to make savings but it is not clear whether the reforms have delivered better value for money, the National Audit Office (NAO) reported today.

Kevin Hyland was appointed as the UK’s first independent anti-slavery commissioner by Home Secretary Theresa May yesterday. 

The Home Office have backed a proposal to prevent 17-year-olds being detained in police custody overnight after being charged, it was announced yesterday.

Greater Manchester will gain significant decision-making powers from Whitehall after chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne and leaders of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) signed a devolution agreement today. 

HM Revenue and Customs will gain greater ability to clamp down on tax evaders following the signing of an international agreement on tax evasion at the Global Forum in Berlin today. 

CSW takes a look at the ins and outs of the Local Government (Independence) Bill 2014 - 2015

A six week government consultation published this week aims to strengthen the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) capacity to better deal with companies breaking the law over nuisance calls and texts. 

Phil Gormley, deputy director-general of the National Crime Agency (NCA), outlined the key crimes the UK recognise as falling under the tier two threat of ‘serious and organised crime’.