Topic
public-spending
16 stories related to this topic, newest first.
order-order.compolitics5 days ago
UK Civil Servants Played Grand Theft Auto in Taxpayer-Funded Research Project
Civil servants at the Department for Education joined members of the public in online Grand Theft Auto sessions during work hours as part of a research project run by Policy Lab. The unit conducted the sessions in late 2024 to gather participant perspectives through unconventiona…
pakistantoday.com.pkpolitics5 days ago
British Council Has Not Repaid Principal on £197 Million Loan but Offered Art Collection as Repayment
The National Audit Office reported that the British Council has repaid none of the £197 million loan balance and does not expect to return to profit until 2029/30. Negotiations continue over a repayment plan that could cut a quarter of staff and close offices in 11 countries.
ukdefencejournal.org.ukworld14 days ago
UK Government to Reallocate £6 Billion from Infrastructure Projects to Defense Spending
The UK government plans to reduce investment by £6 billion, or $8 billion, in projects such as schools and hospitals to help fund defense spending.
info.gov.hkpolitics15 days ago
National Audit Office Runs Six-Week Paid Diversity Internship Open Only to Women, Lower Socio-Economic Applicants and Those of Black Heritage
The six-week program, running June 15 to July 24, pays £25,089 outside London and £27,000 in London. Eligibility is limited to women, lower socio-economic applicants, and those with black heritage.
bbc.co.ukfinance16 days ago
Crown Estate spent £400,000 on Forest Lodge before Wales family moved in
A National Audit Office report states the Crown Estate spent nearly £400,000 refurbishing Forest Lodge before the Prince and Princess of Wales took residence in October 2025. The eight-bedroom property is leased for 20 years at an annual rent of £307,200.
bbc.co.ukpolitics16 days ago
NAO Report Confirms Royal Property Leases Followed Independent Valuations and Open Market Terms
The NAO report shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received private income from subletting cottages while paying peppercorn rent. It also covers leases for the Prince and Princess of Wales and adjusted rents paid by King Charles.
The Independentpolitics17 days ago
UK Removes 70,000 Ineligible Migrants, Cuts Asylum Hotel Use by 63%
A parliamentary report finds the Home Office cannot say how many failed asylum seekers remain in the country and lacks a long-term housing plan. Asylum support costs reached £4 billion in 2024-25.
The Bbcpolitics17 days ago
NAO Finds No Wrongdoing in Royal Housing Arrangements, First Review in 20 Years
The first report on royal residences in 20 years shows 12 properties linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and rent paid by the King for two non-working royals.
Newsweekbusiness17 days ago
NAO: Crown Estate Sets All Royal Leases at Open-Market Rates
A National Audit Office report details how Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor generated private income from three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate for more than 20 years while paying only a peppercorn rent on the main property.
bbc.co.ukworld25 days ago
Birmingham City Council Paid £472,000 in Clean Air Zone Charges for Its Own Fleet
Birmingham City Council has paid £472,253 in daily charges and fines since 2021 because 142 of its 1,170 vehicles do not meet the city's Clean Air Zone emissions standards. The payments represent about 20 times the amount disclosed by any other UK council operating a similar sche…
rnz.co.nzworld29 days ago
UK Chancellor Announces Cuts to Food Tariffs and VAT on Children's Activities
Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced tariff reductions on about 100 imported food items and lowered VAT to 5 percent on children's meals and summer attractions. The package also includes free summer bus travel for children and a higher tax-free mileage allowance for work-related d…
IN
The Bbcbusiness30 days ago
Council Reports Higher Cost for Chief Executive Payout
A council has updated the total cost of a payout to its former chief executive from an initial figure of £209,000 to £280,654. Opposition members described the increase as unexpected and compared it to a lottery win.
thehindu.comworld43 days ago
Ministry of Justice Spends £2,980 on Ian Huntley's Cremation Following Prison Death
The Ministry of Justice spent £1,915 on Huntley's cremation, £100 on staff supervision and £625 on professional services after the 52-year-old was attacked at HMP Frankland. No mourners attended the service and his ashes are to be returned to his mother next month. A petition sig…
washingtonpost.comworld49 days ago
Kenyan Senator Urges Focus on Completing Ongoing Projects and Pending Bills in 2026/2027 Budget
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina called for prioritizing completion of ongoing initiatives and settling pending bills over new projects in Kenya's upcoming budget. He criticized the Treasury's use of Article 223 for off-budget spending. The remarks follow the Cabinet's endorsement o…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewfinance62 days ago
Fitch Ratings Downgrades Philippines Credit Outlook to Negative
Fitch Ratings has revised the Philippines' credit outlook to negative from stable while affirming its BBB rating. The change reflects exposure to the global energy shock from the Middle East crisis and a slowdown in public spending. This could lead to higher borrowing costs if th…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewworld73 days ago
UK Government Reports £432 Million Reduction in In-Donor Refugee Spending for 2025
The UK Labour government has announced a £432 million decrease in in-donor refugee spending within Britain for 2025, marking a 15 percent reduction from the previous year. This follows the closure of asylum hotels and accelerated processing of applications. Overall asylum-related…