Defra drops bid for higher pay rises, blaming 'escalating inflation' Exclusive
22 Jul 2022 Energy & Environment
Defra drops bid for higher pay rises, blaming 'escalating inflation'
Economic pressure has made it "extremely unlikely" Cabinet Office and Treasury will sign off on pay-flexibility case, remuneration committee says
Pay constraint 'unjust, unwise, and unfair', says Environment Agency chief Exclusive
21 Jul 2022 Energy & Environment
Pay constraint 'unjust, unwise, and unfair', says Environment Agency chief
James Bevan says staff are "experiencing real hardship" as inflation bites, with some using foodbanks
MPs warn of ‘major hole at centre of government’ after ministers refuse to give evidence on climate change planning
19 Jul 2022 Energy & Environment
MPs warn of ‘major hole at centre of government’ after ministers refuse to give evidence on climate change planning
Committee says Cabinet Office is giving the “unfortunate impression” that there are no ministers with responsibility for climate change resilience
MPs back government’s choice for next Environment Agency boss
13 Jul 2022 Energy & Environment
MPs back government’s choice for next Environment Agency boss
Decision comes despite “significant gaps” in Alan Lovell’s knowledge of sector issues
Union agrees to halt Natural England industrial action after commitment to pay reform
29 Jun 2022 Energy & Environment
Union agrees to halt Natural England industrial action after commitment to pay reform
Prospect warns it "will not hesitate" to take further industrial action if progress does not materialise
Claims PM tried to hire Carrie Johnson for Foreign Office job 'ripe for investigation'
21 Jun 2022 Energy & Environment
Claims PM tried to hire Carrie Johnson for Foreign Office job 'ripe for investigation'
Ex-standards adviser Lord Geidt reportedly believes PM’s plan to hire girlfriend as chief of staff at FCO should be probed
Dismantling Natural England would be 'calamitous', campaigners say
17 Jun 2022 Energy & Environment
Dismantling Natural England would be 'calamitous', campaigners say
Government accused of “obsession with moving furniture around” as Defra confirms structural changes are being considered
Stronger leadership needed to support public-sector emissions work, says NAO
15 Jun 2022 Energy & Environment
Stronger leadership needed to support public-sector emissions work, says NAO
Lack of central guidance partly to blame for inconsistencies in how greenhouse gas emissions are reported, watchdog says
Defra announces hiring freeze
30 May 2022 Energy & Environment
Defra announces hiring freeze
Redundancies a "last resort" as department aims to achieve workforce reduction through natural attrition
BEIS offers £160k for second perm sec to oversee 'high-stakes' programmes
23 May 2022 Energy & Environment
BEIS offers £160k for second perm sec to oversee 'high-stakes' programmes
Role has been created to "increase the scope and capacity of senior leadership", perm sec says
Defra accused of ‘undermining’ unions with pay survey
10 May 2022 Energy & Environment
Defra accused of ‘undermining’ unions with pay survey
PCS urges members not to express willingness to sacrifice terms and conditions in return for inflationary rise
‘Reluctance bordering on hostility’: ex-diplomat says civil service ‘anti-Brexit protectionism’ hampered trade deal
05 May 2022 Energy & Environment
‘Reluctance bordering on hostility’: ex-diplomat says civil service ‘anti-Brexit protectionism’ hampered trade deal
Former Australian high commissioner to the UK says Defra officials were most hostile to negotiations
Defra non-exec under pressure to resign for 'interfering in political matters'
13 Apr 2022 Energy & Environment
Defra non-exec under pressure to resign for 'interfering in political matters'
Tory MPs express outrage after Ben Goldsmith backs Extinction Rebellions stance against fossil fuels
Government urged to address labour shortages to avert ‘permanent damage’ to farming industry
12 Apr 2022 Energy & Environment
Government urged to address labour shortages to avert ‘permanent damage’ to farming industry
MPs urge departments to take industry concerns seriously following the “seriously deficient” implementation of short-term visa schemes
PM sets out plans to treble nuclear power generation by 2050
08 Apr 2022 Energy & Environment
PM sets out plans to treble nuclear power generation by 2050
British energy security strategy dubbed “missed opportunity” by select committee chair
Progress with NICS cash-for-ash reforms dubbed ‘disappointing’
23 Mar 2022 Energy & Environment
Progress with NICS cash-for-ash reforms dubbed ‘disappointing’
Fewer than half of scandal inquiry’s recommendations have been implemented in full, says audit chief
British Business Bank chiefs question ex-minister’s claims on Covid loan fraud data
16 Mar 2022 Energy & Environment
British Business Bank chiefs question ex-minister’s claims on Covid loan fraud data
Barclays boss tells MPs that HMRC could have given more anti-fraud help
Civil servants accused of ‘paranoid risk aversion’ over Covid support schemes
15 Mar 2022 Energy & Environment
Civil servants accused of ‘paranoid risk aversion’ over Covid support schemes
Ex-minister says entire board of British Business Bank should be sacked for Bounce Back Loan failings
'Broken' pay at Natural England 'putting net-zero goals at risk'
02 Mar 2022 Energy & Environment
'Broken' pay at Natural England 'putting net-zero goals at risk'
Union says real-terms wages have fallen by 20% in a decade, while stress is rising
Government ‘doesn’t know’ what net-zero goal will cost or how to pay for it, MPs warn
02 Mar 2022 Energy & Environment
Government ‘doesn’t know’ what net-zero goal will cost or how to pay for it, MPs warn
Report comes as IPCC warns of potential for “irreversible” damage over next 20 years
Darpa exec named first boss of Advanced Research and Invention Agency
03 Feb 2022 Energy & Environment
Darpa exec named first boss of Advanced Research and Invention Agency
BEIS hires British-born deputy of US organisation Darpa to lead new “high-risk, high-reward organisation”
Defra accused of 'blind optimism' over post-Brexit farming plans
11 Jan 2022 Energy & Environment
Defra accused of 'blind optimism' over post-Brexit farming plans
Department has given "no detail" on how payment schemes will work, PAC says
BEIS slammed by MPs for ‘pointlessly rushed’ green homes scheme
01 Dec 2021 Energy & Environment
BEIS slammed by MPs for ‘pointlessly rushed’ green homes scheme
Public Accounts Committee chair says scheme’s flaws "should have been blindingly obvious to the department"
Pay sparks strike threat at Natural England
25 Nov 2021 Energy & Environment
Pay sparks strike threat at Natural England
Action to start on 4 January, union says