31. July 2010.

Inside the Home Office, Whitehall's 'Lubyanka'

The Home Office has been a graveyard for ministerial ambitions for decades. Michael Cockerell finds out why.

2010. February 11. 7:46

Home Office staff 'failing to attend thousands of immigration hearings' [Telegraph.co.uk] Jul. 29. 23:43 Home Office staff are failing to attend thousands of general immigration hearings, according to new figures. Hizb ut Tahrir is not a gateway to terrorism, claims Whitehall report [Telegraph.co.uk] Jul. 24. The Government has opened the way for official links with Muslim extremists after civil servants said radical groups could be a"safety valve" for those tempted by terrorism. Hundreds of laptops owned by Whitehall departments lost or stolen in two years [Telegraph.co.uk] Jul. 22. Hundreds of laptops owned by government ministries have been lost or stolen over the past two years, new figures show. Senior Home Office civil servants 'paid large bonuses despite Whitehall cutbacks' [Telegraph.co.uk] Jul. 21. Hundreds of thousands of pounds in bonuses to be paid to Home Office staff despite a public sector pay freeze, MPs told. Whitehall 'to miss' cuts target [BBC NEWS] Jul. 20. Targets to cut government department spending by35bn by 2011 are "unlikely" to be met, the National Audit Office warns. Michael Gove has found that Whitehall is a difficult beast to master [Telegraph.co.uk] Jul. 17. The Coalition represents a fundamental challenge to the Civil Service - and it is fighting back, says Andrew Gilligan. Whitehall 'supported Guantanamo' [BBC NEWS] Jul. 14. Foreign Office officials supported sending UK terrorism suspects to Guantanamo Bay in the wake of 9/11, according to documents. Home Office to stop Russian spy Anna Chapman from returning to UK [Telegraph.co.uk] Jul. 9. The Home Office is looking at ways to stop Anna Chapman, the glamorous Russian spy, returning to Britain. Former BP chief Lord Browne to lead business-like Whitehall efficiency drive [Telegraph.co.uk] Jun. 30. Lord Browne of Madingley has been brought into Government as part of a major efficiency drive. Whitehall should introduce shorter-working weeks [Telegraph.co.uk] Jun. 25. The public sector should learn lessons from businesses that struggled during the recession by introducing shorter-working weeks or longer holidays, according to a business group. Budget 2010: Axe falls on Whitehall, the public sector and pensions [Telegraph.co.uk] Jun. 22. Whitehall budgets are facing sweeping cuts of 25pc as the axe is wielded on the public sector, with pay and pensions also targeted. Whitehall finance staff 'not wanted' in private sector [Telegraph.co.uk] Jun. 21. Public sector finance staff who lose their job will not be welcomed in the private sector because they"lack the cut and thrust attitude" demanded by businesses, a recruitment firm has ...