Boosting pay and tackling poor performance should be on Office for Value for Money's agenda – report
18 Nov Policy

Boosting pay and tackling poor performance should be on Office for Value for Money's agenda – report

New unit should assess cost-benefit analysis of retaining poor performers versus managing them out, Reform think tank says
by Beckie Smith
Cabinet Office creates new EU-focused second perm sec role
25 Nov Policy
Cabinet Office creates new EU-focused second perm sec role
The public sector needs a clear and consistent mandate on net zero
20 Nov Policy
The public sector needs a clear and consistent mandate on net zero
Think tank calls for 'significant' hike in spad numbers – plus higher pay
13 Nov Policy
Think tank calls for 'significant' hike in spad numbers – plus higher pay
Cabinet Office ‘needs enhancing’ to properly support PM says George Osborne
09 Nov 2020 Policy
Cabinet Office ‘needs enhancing’ to properly support PM says George Osborne
Former chancellor also floats boosted powers for departmental boards to sack perm secs
Move 50,000 civil servants to northern 'clusters' to break London 'stranglehold' on policymaking, think tank says
03 Nov 2020 Policy
Move 50,000 civil servants to northern 'clusters' to break London 'stranglehold' on policymaking, think tank says
Manchester, Warrington and Liverpool among most promising locations for hubs of similar public organisations, says report on levelling-up agenda
Truss vows 'Britain shaped' trade deals must boost levelling-up agenda
30 Oct 2020 Policy
Truss vows 'Britain shaped' trade deals must boost levelling-up agenda
International trade secretary sets out vision for free trade as a “lean, green, value-creating machine”
Government remains focused on levelling up despite Covid, insists minister
27 Oct 2020 Policy
Government remains focused on levelling up despite Covid, insists minister
Northern Conservative MPs write to PM urging the cost of Covid not to be paid for by downgrading the levelling-up agenda
Treasury perm sec Scholar tight-lipped on impact analysis for Covid-19 tiers
21 Oct 2020 Policy
Treasury perm sec Scholar tight-lipped on impact analysis for Covid-19 tiers
Treasury perm sec grilled by MPs demanding figures for effect on businesses of new localised restrictions
Interview: UK national statistician on how data has helped government – and the public – in coronavirus response
20 Oct 2020 Policy
Interview: UK national statistician on how data has helped government – and the public – in coronavirus response
To mark World Statistics Day, Professor Sir Ian Diamond reveals how the work of statisticians has been crucial in supporting government’s pandemic response, as well as his thoughts on the media and politicians’ use of numbers
DfE minister says civil service must ‘demonstrate leadership’ as care leavers internship applications open
08 Oct 2020 Policy
DfE minister says civil service must ‘demonstrate leadership’ as care leavers internship applications open
Children’s minister says government must show leadership to support care leavers as new programme launches
Why following the science won’t be enough to build a better future after coronavirus
05 Oct 2020 Policy
Why following the science won’t be enough to build a better future after coronavirus
Policymakers will need the full power of the humanities and social sciences to deliver an inclusive, equitable and sustainable pandemic recovery, says Hetan Shah of the British Academy
Post-pandemic policymaking 'must go beyond following the science', professors say
02 Oct 2020 Policy
Post-pandemic policymaking 'must go beyond following the science', professors say
British Academy project sets out ‘five principles to draw on "full breadth of knowledge" for policy
DCMS names telecoms diversification task force after Huawei ban
28 Sep 2020 Policy
DCMS names telecoms diversification task force after Huawei ban
A selection of telecoms executives and academics will help deliver a strategy to be published later this year
Civil Service Fast Stream kicks off recruitment round for over 800 posts
25 Sep 2020 Policy
Civil Service Fast Stream kicks off recruitment round for over 800 posts
Selection of available jobs includes 244 roles for generalist officials
Deliver social value to win contracts, government tells suppliers
25 Sep 2020 Policy
Deliver social value to win contracts, government tells suppliers
Commercial officials to get training in new rules to take account of the wider impact of firms bidding for work from departments
Cabinet Office commissions pay benchmarking study to give 'assurance and transparency' for top roles
23 Sep 2020 Policy
Cabinet Office commissions pay benchmarking study to give 'assurance and transparency' for top roles
Review will provide 2020 data to support senior and delegated grade recruitment for 47 departments
Minister rejects call for written directions to be expanded to policy amid Internal Market Bill concerns
18 Sep 2020 Policy
Minister rejects call for written directions to be expanded to policy amid Internal Market Bill concerns
Civil servants told that go-ahead from new cabinet secretary is only assurance they need to work on controversial legislation
National Data Strategy promises to ‘tackle government culture of risk aversion’
14 Sep 2020 Policy
National Data Strategy promises to ‘tackle government culture of risk aversion’
Document sets out ‘transforming government’s use of data’ as one of five missions
A-Level row: 'It's unlikely we could ever have delivered this policy successfully,' Ofqual chair says
03 Sep 2020 Policy
A-Level row: 'It's unlikely we could ever have delivered this policy successfully,' Ofqual chair says
Roger Taylor said it was Gavin Williamson's decision to use algorithm, but Ofqual is "ultimately responsible for the decisions that fall to us".
Slated for success: DfE perm sec Jonathan Slater on delivery, directions and dancing
27 Aug 2020 Policy
Slated for success: DfE perm sec Jonathan Slater on delivery, directions and dancing

Moving to the education department brought Jonathan Slater back to a policy area he knows and loves. He speaks to Suzannah Brecknell about his key role in helping the frontline function
Cummings and No.10 policy unit to move to Cabinet Office
13 Aug 2020 Policy
Cummings and No.10 policy unit to move to Cabinet Office
The move is seen as part of Cummings-inspired government changes as top adviser has long wanted more control over the civil service by Downing Street
Home Office seeks leader for Policy and Innovation Lab
05 Aug 2020 Policy
Home Office seeks leader for Policy and Innovation Lab
Department recruits for individual to apply design principles to solve government challenges
Government comms criticised as new northern lockdown rules brought in at short notice
31 Jul 2020 Policy
Government comms criticised as new northern lockdown rules brought in at short notice
Matt Hancock says data from the test and trace system shows case number increase is a result of households meeting each other
Government to pay young people’s wages for six months under Treasury ‘Plan for Jobs’
08 Jul 2020 Policy
Government to pay young people’s wages for six months under Treasury ‘Plan for Jobs’
Treasury also confirms it still plans to complete a comprehensive spending review to be completed this year despite coronavirus impact
Government turns to Instagram to seek policy guidance from teenagers
03 Jul 2020 Policy
Government turns to Instagram to seek policy guidance from teenagers
New initiative will seek to gain views of people aged 13 to 25
PM unveils infrastructure spending and planning reforms to ‘build, build, build’ out of Covid-19 crisis
30 Jun 2020 Policy
PM unveils infrastructure spending and planning reforms to ‘build, build, build’ out of Covid-19 crisis
"Times demand” interventionist policies to aid UK's economic recovery, Boris Johnson says
Daily coronavirus press conferences scrapped after PM unveils easing of lockdown rules
24 Jun 2020 Policy
Daily coronavirus press conferences scrapped after PM unveils easing of lockdown rules

“We’ll continue to hold press conferences to coincide with significant announcements," says No.10