The UK government seems to have decided it is easier to recoup money paid out in error to the poorest in society than from Covid-19 support scheme fraudsters, says George Turner.
The UK government’s lack of engagement with devolved administrations over the £2.6bn fund aimed at replacing regional European Union funding has strained relationships across the union,...
The government has told NHS England to give private hospitals up to £270m before the end of March as part of an arrangement that does not necessarily mean they will treat any NHS patients.
English councils which have distributed highest amounts to businesses through the Covid-19 Additional Restrictions Grant scheme will get the largest allocations from a £100m top-up ...
2021 has been another testing year for public finance professionals. But how well can you remember the events of the past 12 months? Take our annual Christmas festive quiz to find out.
The UK’s “rapid” economic recovery after lockdowns and the government’s efforts to cut the deficit following the large Covid-19 support schemes have led to rating agency Fitch affirming its judgement...
The Cabinet Office has dropped proposals for some changes to post-Brexit procurement processes, after councils complained that they need the ability to tailor contracts for health and...
The government’s long-awaited social care white paper has failed to meet the hopes of many in the sector, with several organisations saying the billions of pounds pledged is not enough to solve...
Large amounts of government spending are either evaluated poorly or not evaluated at all, according to a critical report from the National Audit Office.
Fraud and error in pandemic support programmes have led to head of the National Audit Office Gareth Davies qualifying his opinion on the 2020-21 accounts of the Department for Business, Energy and...
The government has been criticised for lacking information about its pandemic scheme set up to fight youth unemployment, meaning it does not know whether it is having the positive impact it was hoped...
HMRC is expected to recoup less than half of the forecast £5.8bn lost through fraud and error on Covid-19 support schemes, according to the department's top civil servant.
The Department for Work and Pensions has been slammed by MPs for a lack of control over fraud and overpayments of Universal Credit, which soared to record levels last year.
MPs have slammed the Ministry of Defence for “repeatedly wasting taxpayers’ money” by failing to improve its procurement system, which the UK depends on for national security.
A much-welcomed increase in resources cannot paper over the cracks in the way central government delivers much of its funding for local government, says CIPFA chief executive Rob Whiteman.
Local government fared better than many expected in Wednesday’s Budget and Spending Review – but a closer look reveals the sector is still likely to face funding pressures.
Experts are sceptical that £2.6bn announced in the 2021 Autumn Budget and Spending Review to replace European Union support will be enough to meet previous sums.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled a new set of fiscal rules in his second Budget, in a bid to reduce the public debt after the huge level of borrowing undertaken in response to Covid-19.