Government outlines policy on open source software

The government wants to create an environment well suited to open source software

The government has announced its new policy on open source software, which it said would ensure maximum value for money for taxpayers.

The Government Action Plan was revealed by Tom Watson, minister for digital engagement, who said that it reflected a change in the government's approach to IT. Adherence to the 10-point plan will create an environment well suited to open source software, according to the minister.

"Open source software is a not a cure-all remedy, and is not the only solution to IT questions," Watson said. "However, by levelling the playing field and allowing open source to be as competitive as possible, we can ensure that taxpayers get maximum value for money from government IT, something that is more important than ever during the worldwide financial climate."

The new policy explicitly asks whether software is interoperable and will avoid the government being locked into particular product sets. It also assesses whether the strategy will enable the reuse of any software the public sector has already bought.

Sun Microsystems has been quick to offer its support for the initiative.

"We are delighted that this Government Action Plan will deliver a robust progressive policy," said Kim Jones, president and managing director for Sun in the UK.

"The UK government could save millions of pounds every year if it made more use of open source as part of a competitive procurement system. We are convinced that open source and open standards drive much-needed choice, competition and innovation in the market."