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Innovation

UK ID system “not fit for purpose”, says select committee

The Government Digital Service (GDS) has failed to meet all of its original performance targets for its flagship ID verification system, the UK House of Commons’ Public Accounts Committee (PAC) […]

Exchanging data, winning trust: the twin pillars of citizen-centric services

When departments can exchange data, they can build services around citizens’ needs; but such data-sharing demands public support. Last month, an international panel discussed the potential to deliver citizen-centric services […]

Canadian public policy think tank axed

Canadian public policy think tank the Mowat Centre has announced its imminent closure after the provincial government of Ontario cut its funding. Announcing the closure in a written statement, the […]

Data with destiny: an interview with Canada’s stats chief

Anil Arora, the chief statistician of Canada, never planned on a long public sector career. But as he tells Matt Ross, a series of fascinating challenges have kept him in […]

Commonwealth countries leading the world in civil service effectiveness

A global league table ranking the effectiveness of civil services in 38 countries has placed four Commonwealth nations – the UK, New Zealand, Canada and Australia – in the top […]

UK ‘breaking open’ civil service recruitment, says chief exec

The UK civil service’s ‘ridiculously structured’ approach to recruitment has held it back, chief executive John Manzoni said last week: its new hiring process should bring in people with broader […]

New compendium profiles innovative techniques from around the world

A leading think tank has published a compendium detailing 13 innovative techniques deployed in public sectors around the world, including accelerator programmes, challenge prizes, evidence quality standards, and public sector […]

UK probation outsourcing ‘irredeemably flawed’, says inspector

A report by the UK chief inspector of probation has branded the service’s partial outsourcing “irredeemably flawed”, and pressed the government to take the “opportunity to redesign the service” when […]

Behavioural science could boost gender equality, says OECD

A ‘behavioural insights’ approach to promoting gender equality in public services could help overcome the shortcomings of targets and regulatory approaches, according to a report by the OECD. The organisation […]

Brexit demands pace and innovation, says John Manzoni

The UK civil service has never previously faced a challenge like Brexit. To meet that challenge, its chief executive John Manzoni argues, officials must take a very different approach to […]