In this week’s Week in Public Services, I look at resident doctor strikes, the new child poverty strategy, extra funding for domestic abuse support and what jury trial reforms would really do to court backlogs.

Some key takeaways below

medium.com/week-in-publ...

1/ The latest ONS data on public sector employment shows that the civil service has grown (again).

After 2 consecutive quarters of plateauing growth, the CS grew in Q3 by 3490 (0.6%) to 520440 FTE. This is the highest quarterly increase since Labour came to power.

@instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Last week at @instituteforgovernment.org.uk, we published a new set of Ministers Reflect interviews with Sajid Javid, Simon Hart and Theresa Villiers.

My comment piece below explores the key lessons Starmer's govt can take from these reflections.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/less...

The Office for Value for Money has been a success

Last week the OVfM published its final reports, which set out a series of welcome improvements to the spending framework. @drbenpaxton.bsky.social looks at what it achieved in its short lifetime www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/offi...

In a new departure, we @instituteforgovernment.org.uk are going to be live blogging the Budget all through tomorrow. The live blog is now live and we will be sharing our pre-Budget thoughts there, followed by responses once we hear the CX's speech www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/au...

NEW: Report from me and @nehaldavison.bsky.social on how and why boys from low-income families get left behind in their early years
🧵⬇️
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

The NHS section of Performance Tracker 2025 by @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social is live on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk's website, with new analysis on general practice and hospital performance in England.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Really pleased to have contributed to the new criminal justice section of Performance Tracker 2025, now live on the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s website. It brings together new analysis on police, criminal courts and prisons. Some thoughts below. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Procurement is massively underrated as an opportunity for improvement, and where a mission-led approach could make a difference.
Our NEW REPORT explores why this change is hard, and how procurement should be used to shape markets + drive innovation🧵
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Special Delivery! @emma-conway.bsky.social and I have been thinking about how Keir Starmer and co (especially Darren Jones) can make a success of 'phase two' - which is all about delivering on the government's priorities. Read more here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/star...

New @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report by me, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and @jillongovt.bsky.social on how Reeves should approach tax this Autumn

With tax rises inevitable, Reeves should reject path of least resistance and embrace tax reform 1/3

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...