Civil Service World

When the essentials are absent, chaos ensues – lessons from the Covid Inquiry What the Covid Inquiry tells us about the failing current model of UK governance

"The Covid Inquiry makes the failings and imperfections of the current model of UK governance impossible to ignore"
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Defra reviewing 33 offices and a second DBT office in SW1: Departments reveal property plans HMRC gives hubs programme update and DHSC says it is working on a Manchester Health hub in strategic asset management plans

Defra said it is considering the future of 33 of its offices, having decided to retain 16 following an initial review
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DWP creates new safeguarding team following MPs concerns Pat McFadden tells select committee the department has “more to do” to ensure vulnerable customers get the support they need

McFadden said “level one” safeguarding training is now being offered to all civil servants in the department
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Latest civil service & public affairs moves – 24 November Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via Dods People

Latest appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs
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How can government get the best value from using consultants? The question is not whether to use consultants, but how to use them wisely

"If we get this right, we can deliver better value for money and better outcomes for the public"
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Covid Inquiry: Toxic culture at centre of government hindered decision-making Report lays most of the blame for 'chaotic' and 'sexist' culture on Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson

Report says Cummings had “destabilising influence” and his behaviour contributed significantly to "culture of fear, mutual suspicion and distrust that poisoned atmosphere” in No.10
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Covid Inquiry: Ministers failed to appreciate scale of threat Politicians and officials faced “extreme pressure” but produced a response that was “too little, too late”, report says

Politicians and officials faced “extreme pressure” but produced a response that was “too little, too late”, report says
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Covid Inquiry: Chris Wormald failed to ‘rectify’ Matt Hancock’s ‘unjustified’ assurances Inquiry's module two report says health secretary’s misleading claims and Wormald’s failure to correct them “obscured reality and need for more act...

Inquiry report says health secretary’s misleading claims and Wormald’s failure to correct them “obscured reality and need for more action”
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Statistics regulator calls for greater transparency in government comms OSR says intelligent transparency should be default approach to government communication of statistics

"While there are positive signs of progress among the statistical community, in our review we that found few press releases named the source of the numbers they use"
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How can the Fast Stream get better? Ex-Fast Stream boss and other experts discuss how the programme can be improved and efforts that are already under way

Ex-Fast Stream boss and other experts discuss how the programme can be improved as well as efforts that are already under way
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Cabinet Office recruiting for EDS director general MoJ snaps up Emma Churchill, the current DG for the economic and domestic secretariat

MoJ snaps up Emma Churchill, the current DG for the economic and domestic secretariat
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Labour ‘failing to grasp’ public service reform, report finds Institute for Government warns back-office staff cuts could hamper frontline work

Think tank warns back-office staff cuts could hamper frontline work
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Serious Fraud Office reignites move to Canary Wharf SFO to move to Cabot Square next year after abandoning relocation to 10 South Colonnade

SFO will move to Canary Wharf offices on Cabot Square next year after abandoning relocation to government hub in the same area
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'Replicating poor practices': MPs raise concerns over health reforms Public Accounts Committee also warns there is a “serious risk” DHSC will fail to meet key hospital waiting times target

"We are now seeing chilling echoes of past failures on HS2 and the New Hospital Programme", the Public Accounts Committee warned
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Asylum overhaul will increase costs and worsen backlog, charities warn Refugee Council says changes to make refugee status temporary will cost Home Office around £872m

Mahmood says she will make sure Home Office has "administration capacity and the funding to enact these reforms"
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NS&I ‘needs realistic plan’ for digital transformation programme, NAO says Public spending watchdog says project is now running four years late and expected to cost £1.3bn more than originally planned

Watchdog says NS&I lacks both a “realistic integrated plan” for the transformation project and the capacity and capability to deliver it
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Leading through austerity: A pre-budget guide This moment calls for clarity, courage and care

Op-ed: This budget will not just set fiscal limits and priorities. It will test whether government can still act with clarity, courage and care when those limits tighten
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Latest civil service & public affairs moves – November 3-17 Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs in the last week, via Dods People

Latest moves 👇
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HMRC: Statistics regulator to examine recent ‘high-profile errors’ Office for Statistics Regulation says review will initially focus on recent errors and will report findings in early 2026

Office for Statistics Regulation review of HMRC statistics errors to report findings in early 2026
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Things do change for the better, however slowly: What I learnt as a union official Former FDA assistant general secretary Lucille Thirlby shares why patience and looking after your own wellbeing are crucial when pushing for progre...

"The progress we should all see in the workplace still has to be fought for and all these years on, I despair about people’s lack of understanding around equality and inclusion"
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Ministers considering reforms to Whitehall 'write-around' process Process is designed to ensure there is government-wide agreement on cross-departmental issues

Starmer is believed to have become frustrated with how long it can take to implement decisions
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HMT second perm sec Sam Beckett to depart Department offers up to £208,000 for director general position to replace Beckett

HM Treasury second perm sec and chief economic adviser Sam Beckett will step down from the role and retire from the civil service
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Cabinet Office confirms Civil Service Pension Scheme handover Capita gets “final” go-ahead to take over scheme administration following delayed decision

Capita gets “final” go-ahead to take over scheme administration following delayed decision
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Hybrid working: Peers warn of conflict between 60% policy and office closures House of Lords committee says government 'may need to decide which it wants to prioritise'

Report says government should review potential conflict between 60% office attendance rule and office closures
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Building an AI-ready civil service: The skills that will define 2025 and beyond As AI moves from pilot projects to everyday workflows, the next major transformation of the civil service will be one of skills, mindset and leader...

Op-ed: "Whether you’re writing policy, managing programmes, delivering services, or leading teams, ask yourself: How can AI help me do this better?"
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Starmer apologises for 'unfortunate error' in approving football regulator appointment PM has ordered an internal review of No.10 recusals after rubber stamping David Kogan's appointment as chair

Starmer says he has asked officials to carry out an internal review of the processes by which recusals are managed in No.10 following the error
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ONS to narrow focus and reduce output by 10% Perm sec Darren Tierney pledges 'quality over quantity'

Tierney, who became ONS's perm sec in August, said the reforms will prioritise “quality over quantity”
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Defra strategy DG sets out priorities on tackling ageing IT Framework aims to “prioritise the highest-impact activities to modernise our systems and processes”

New Defra guidelines aim to “prioritise the highest-impact activities" to modernise systems and processes
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Probation Service ‘being set up to fail’ with tagging expansion, committee says Peers warn resourcing for planned surge in electronic monitoring is 'almost certain” to be not enough

Peers warn resourcing for planned surge in electronic monitoring is "almost certain” to be not enough
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Lord Evans: We don't talk enough about ethics Former standards committee chair recalls thinking it was 'laughable' to be told by perm sec there were no ethical issues in their department

Former standards committee chair recalls thinking it was 'laughable' to be told by a perm sec there were no ethical issues in their department
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