Constitutional Affairs written question – answered at on 4 November 2004.
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of the Department's (a) implemented and (b) planned computer systems use open source software; and what plans are in place to raise this level.
My Department's procurement of software solutions follows the 'level playing field' Government Open Source Software (OSS) Policy. The Government consider OSS solutions alongside proprietary ones in IT procurements and that contracts should be awarded on a value for money, case by case basis. The OSS policy can be viewed at www.govtalk.gov.uk
My Department works with its suppliers so that OSS is used, where appropriate, in the developments currently under way or under consideration. For example, my Department makes use of OSS in the hosting of its main websites.
Where OSS is used it is with a mixture of bespoke and proprietary software in a variety of environments, which makes it impossible meaningfully to estimate the percentages attributable to each type of software.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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