Operational Delivery

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

Civil service’s biggest union says pressures flagged by FDA and Prospect in support of new pay deal also affect less senior workers

Brexiteers react with fury to Senior Salaries Review Body submission that suggests implementing EU referendum result is pushing Whitehall to its limits

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

Former Barnet and Haringey council CEO Nick Walkley set to take helm of delivery body

But Howard League for Penal Reform says continued administrative delays are “simply unacceptable” for prisoners who remain locked up

With the end of 2016 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top officials to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2017 – and shed some light on their festive favourites. Professor Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer, takes part in our annual perm secs round-up...

Unions claim victory as Cabinet Office briefs on major change to civil service performance management system introduced by Francis Maude, including axing of requirement for guided distribution. CSW has the full detail and reaction

HMRC job ad says London Office will be moving to Canary Wharf as a "transitional site in summer 2017"

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

MPs say DfE must not focus solely on hitting target as it overhauls the UK's apprenticeships system

Union's general secretary Mark Serwotka hails "resounding rejection" of already-introduced Compensation Scheme changes 

Former education secretary calls for weekly naming and shaming of civil servants working on big projects, but union for senior officials says his intervention is "more about resurrecting his career as a columnist"

After deal that could see some staff given 20% hike over four years, People Survey 2016 shows DWP satisfaction with pay higher than before Treasury capped rises

Land Registry "will remain in the public sector", Autumn Statement confirms, as PCS hails campaign victory

Former top officials warn against centralisation of power with the finance ministry on eve of chancellor Philip Hammond's first Autumn Statement

Singleton has been director of newsgathering for the broadcaster since 2013

"I’m confident that they will get there. But no-one should be under illusions – this is an enormous job", says former cabinet secretary

This year's People Survey provides a snapshot of morale at Whitehall's newest organisations: the Department for Exiting the European Union, the Department for International Trade, and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Matt Foster crunches the numbers

Former Foreign Office permanent secretary warns Brexit committee over morale concerns if outside experts are paid more than civil servants delivering UK's exit from the EU

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

Appointment will bring number of female permanent secretaries to five, partially reversing recent downturn

Union research shows Grade 6 staff have seen a 16% pay cut in take-home pay since 2011, amid warnings that rises at lower grades will fail to keep pace with the National Living Wage

Work and Pensions Committee says Work Coaches should be supported "to strike the right balance between coaching and conditionality", and warns of varying management quality across the Jobcentre Plus network