Almost half the letters sent to the Treasury by MPs and peers are not responded to within the target time of 15 working days, figures revealed today.

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Parliament calls in EADS for cyber protection

Pan-European aerospace and defence giant EADS has been asked to protect MPs’ and Lords’ computers from being hacked by cyber terrorists.

James Ashton: Consultants upbeat as they spy green shoots

Management consultants regard themselves as a canary down a mine shaft for the economy because when companies want to start spending, they’ll call in the experts first.

The coffin containing the body of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher arrives for the ceremonial funeral at St Paul's Cathedral

Margaret Thatcher funeral: Political giants pay tribute to former prime minister at St Paul's Cathedral

A “who's who” of the political world past and present packed into St Paul's Cathedral for the ceremonial funeral of one of Britain's most divisive figures.

The Sketch: Mrs Speaker may not like it, but the Tories certainly did

It’s not exactly WH Auden’s famous “Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone/Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone/Silence the pianos and with muffled drum/Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come…” But Speaker John Bercow’s gesture to the memory of Lady Thatcher comes pretty close: silencing Big Ben for the duration of her funeral tomorrow.

The statue of Winston Churchill in front of the Houses of Parliament as the Union flag flew at half mast after Baroness Thatcher's death. The bells of Big Ben and the Great Clock at Westminster will be silenced during her funeral for the first time since his in 1965

Big Ben chime will be silenced for Thatcher funeral

Big Ben is to be silenced during Baroness Thatcher's funeral as a mark of respect to the former prime minister, it was announced today.

Home Office to be hit by week of strikes as industrial action escalates

The Home Office is to be hit by a week of strikes in an escalation of a campaign of industrial action in a row over pay, jobs, terms and conditions.

Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office

Ad agency fury as Francis Maude’s old firm goes on government list

Claims of impropriety after shortlist includes company where Cabinet Office Minister was non-executive chairman

‘Worst’ civil servants to be named

The worst-performing 10 per cent of senior Whitehall mandarins are to be identified for the first time and put into a programme of “performance management” which could ultimately lead to their dismissal.

Some ministers believe the Cabinet Secretary, and Sir Bob Kerslake, are under attack

Showdown in Whitehall: Sir Humphreys vs ministers

Former mandarins said to be behind attack on reforms to selection of Permanent Secretaries

We're turning Britain into the most open and transparent and country on earth. Here's how you can benefit too

The Cabinet Secretary on the motivation behind Whitehall's data crusade

UK's power and water infrastructure 'at risk of cyber attacks'

Britain’s national power and water infrastructure is the target of attacks by foreign computer hackers, government officials have warned.

New government website gov.uk goes live

A government website that will save taxpayers up to £70m by replacing other online public services will go live today.

Whitehall departments to be given power to share details of government debtors

Whitehall departments are to be given powers to share details on people and businesses that owe the Government money, under plans to cut Government losses from unpaid debt.

David Cameron warned of rift with mandarins

David Cameron was warned today that he faces a damaging rift with senior civil servants after a minister accused top officials of blocking Government policies they disagree with.

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National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
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Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
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Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
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James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again
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Dylan Hartley talks tough

Northampton have spent the season proving all our critics wrong
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Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

A meeting of global power brokers in a Hertfordshire hotel is exciting conspiracy theorists, but what are they really about?
'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system': Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console

'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system'

Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console
Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men

Plenty of sleaze

Dating website pulls intimate 'hook-up' section to curb harassment
Inferno author Dan Brown 'honoured' to be invited to join the Freemasons

The Freemasons’ Code

Dan Brown reveals the message that told him door to the lodge is open
Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Nick Buckles survived the Olympics débâcle and a £5bn bid fiasco but a profit warning finally triggered his downfall
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How to say ‘I’m a sellout’

Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar
Why clubs are keen to take a stand

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There's a real desire around the grounds for safe standing. But will the authorities listen?
In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

Disillusion with a siege mentality and negative playing style made change inevitable
James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

British driver was fascinating man whose epic duel with Niki Lauda in 1976 was typical of an era of glamour and glory – but also the ever-present threat of death