The choice of software to meet the business needs of the Home Office now largely rests with its strategic IST suppliers who are contracted, largely under the Private Finance Initiative (and PPP arrangements), to meet business requirements and provide value for money solutions, including the consideration of open source solutions. In the main, the Home Office no longer chooses specific software. This factor, combined with the large number of computer systems operated by the Department prevent us from providing percentage figures for the number of systems in which open source software is used and planned.
Within our business requirements the Home Office ensures that any technical choices should meet relevant Government software standards and provide for interoperability with our public and business partners. Currently this does not include the extensive use of open source software.