Prospect members and staff joined a TUC rally in Westminster on Wednesday – a week before the budget – to tell the government to put an end to austerity, support working families and promote growth and jobs.

A parliamentary committee has blamed the Department for Work and Pensions for most of the problems over testing of benefit claimants on their fitness to work.

Under-resourcing is risking undermining stakeholder confidence in the work of Insolvency Service, a Commons select committee has warned.

Prospect is in consultations with the Insolvency Service over a decision to reduce the number of debtor petition staff by a third.

An influential House of Lords committee has told the government that it must consult before abolishing a public body, saying: “the consultation provisions in the Public Bodies Act are statutory...not optional.”