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Tax debt collection 'can improve' Tax debt collection 'can improve'

HM Revenue & Customs can do more to improve management of tax debt, according to a report from the National Audit Office.

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Joint venture loses web deal Joint venture loses web deal

A government-backed company has been replaced as the supplier for the government's flagship NHS Choices website.

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Comms role filled Comms role filled

The head of NHS Direct is to become the government's new permanent secretary for government communications, it has been announced.

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Risk Risk "was under-priced", says FSA boss

Finance companies must be bound more closely to the risks they run, Financial Services Authority (FSA) director Chris Pond has told Whitehall & Westminster World

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View at the eye of the storm View at the eye of the storm

Chris Pond is the Financial Services Authority’s director of financial capability, tasked with improving the nation’s understanding of money matters. He tells Matt Ross of plans to teach people how to handle their finances – and concedes that the FSA may itself have some lessons to learn

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Off the leash Off the leash

After 15 months as a junior trade minister, former ‘goat’ Lord Jones tells Ruth Keeling of his frustrations with risk-averse civil servants, out-of-touch politicians and the weakness of junior ministerial positions

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Communities faces FoI backlog Communities faces FoI backlog

The information commissioner has criticised a Whitehall department for the way it handles information requests.

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Department told to make decision Department told to make decision

MPs have warned that government delays in the decision over the Post Office Card Account are "destabilising Post Office Ltd".

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PR’s cup runneth over PR’s cup runneth over

New figures released by government departments reveal how PR companies are flourishing under the auspices of the Central Office of Information’s PR framework. Ben Willis gets his calculator out

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Strike called off Strike called off

Civil servants will not go on strike on Monday as union officials return to the negotiating table.

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O'Donnell: Recession to bite departments O'Donnell: Recession to bite departments

Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell has warned civil servants that departments will have to become more efficient and innovative as the oncoming recession starts to bite.

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NAO questions customs checks NAO questions customs checks

Checks on imports entering the UK from outside the EU are significantly below the European average, according to a report from the National Audit Office.

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New watchdog for nationalised banks New watchdog for nationalised banks

An arm's length company is to be set up to manage the government’s investments in banks that have been nationalised or recapitalised during the recent financial crisis.

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Gateway site shut down Gateway site shut down

The prime minister has promised to take action after another government supplier lost sensitive data.

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MoD victim of PFI fraud MoD victim of PFI fraud

A private contractor has had to pay £1.3m to the government after fraudulently meeting targets.

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Accounting for all tastes Accounting for all tastes

Public sector procurement is increasingly seen as a way to achieve non-financial aims: first environmental and social improvements, and now equality of opportunity. But can procurers meet these demands while still ensuring value for money? Ruth Keeling reports

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Government warned over data loss Government warned over data loss

The information commissioner has warned of the dangers of creating giant databases of personal information, as new figures revealed alarming levels of data loss.

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Darling to defend government borrowing Darling to defend government borrowing

The chancellor will today defend government plans to increase borrowing to help combat the economic downturn.

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Watchdog to take on diversity Watchdog to take on diversity

Ministers have increased the powers of the public appointments watchdog after diversity figures worsened.

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The business of links The business of links

Personalised services, citizen empowerment – the government wants public services to be more accessible and flexible. Ruth Keeling meets David Dinsdale, who is putting this theory into practice for businesslink

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