NEWS RELEASE – Open Source software

Posted on December 17, 2003

GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE

Strictly Embargoed for 0800hrs 17th December 2003

GREENS WELCOME ?OPEN SOURCE? AS SOFTWARE FREEDOM HITS SCOTTISH LIBRARIES

Patrick Harvie today welcomed the donation of hundreds of Open Source software CDs for libraries across Scotland. 415 out of Scotland?s 507 public libraries in Scotland have accepted the CDs for use where borrowers can get hold of computer software for free.

Open Office is an office suite along the lines of Microsoft’s MS Office, but like all open source software it is released under licensing conditions which let users make copies, distribute it freely, install it on multiple computers and even change the source code to make improvements to the product itself.

Open Office is now available from public libraries, after CDs were provided free of charge by Bob Kerr, a volunteer involved in helping the Open Office project in Scotland.

Patrick Harvie said, “Open source software gives people and organisations real choices about how they use their computers – choices the big corporate players don’t want you to have. You can already download these products free of charge, but having access to the CDs means that people who are a bit less confident downloading software can use them too.”

Patrick Harvie also claimed that Scotland was missing a trick in not developing the potential of Open Source to the full.

“The Parliament alone has spent nearly half a million pounds on licenses for its Microsoft products. Think what the cost must be for Government departments, health boards, police forces, local authorities? the list goes on. Other countries are realising that Open Source alternatives often provide more security, more flexibility and much greater value for money. By building an OS preference into public procurement policies, we could reap these benefits, and help build our Scottish IT skill base at the same time. Yet when I asked the Scottish Executive what it was doing to promote OS, all I got was a reference to a UK Government document – they appear to be doing nothing at all on this.”

For further information contact the Green Group Press Office 0131 348 6376

Notes for editors:

(1)
Find out about open source at www.openoffice.org

(2)
The following councils that accepted the Open Office CD’s for distribution in libraries are as follows:

Aberdeen (6), Angus (11), Argyll and Bute (12), Dundee (6), East Dumbartonshire (8), East Lothian (30), East Renfrewshire (8), Edinburgh (50), Fife (49), Glasgow (50), Highland (55),
Inverclyde (24), Midlothian (10),
Orkney (2), Renfrewshire (19),
Scottish Borders (12), Shetland (2), West Dumbartonshire (25),
West Lothian (30), Western Isles (10).

The CD’s were delivered a month ago and are now starting to appear on the online catalogues.

(3)
Patrick Harvie has asked four written questions on related issues:

S2W-1897 – Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) : To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on Microsoft software licenses in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Mr Andy Kerr (29 September 2003): The Scottish Executive has in place two licensing agreements with Microsoft which provide significant levels of discount on published list prices for Microsoft software.
We have a Select Agreement which offers participating organisations volume discount on Microsoft list prices for their software licences. In addition, we have signed, in February 2003, a three-year Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft which entitles us to receive all upgrades for a defined list of software products (mainly MS Office) issued in the agreement period. The terms of both agreements were negotiated by the Office of Government Commerce on behalf of all government departments.
Expenditure on Microsoft software licenses in each of the past three financial years has been:

2000-01 £191,368
2001-02 £428,812
2002-03 £1,401,474

The figures noted include Value Added Tax at 17.5% and reflect the discounts the Scottish Executive receives from the licensing agreements. The costs in 2000-01 and 2001-02 do not include any elements of technology refresh upgrades.

S2W-1900 – Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) : To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the use of proprietary and non-proprietary document formats where such documents are to be made publicly available and what guidance it issues to public bodies on this matter.

Answered by Mr Andy Kerr (3 September 2003): The Scottish Executive?s use of proprietary and non-proprietary software conforms to the UK Government?s policy which is described in Open Source Software ? Use Within UK Government, which was published by the Office of the e-Envoy in July 2002. The Scottish Executive has not issued additional guidance to Scottish public sector organisations although open standards generally are promoted through the Information Age Government Framework.

S2W-1898 – Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) : To ask the Presiding Officer how much the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) has spent on Microsoft software licences for the Parliament’s IT systems.

Answered by John Scott (1 September 2003): The SPCB has spent approximately £449,000 on current Microsoft Software Licences. This includes licences for desktop software such as Microsoft Office and XP, as well as server operating systems, databases and email systems.

S2W-1899 – Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) : To ask the Scottish Executive whether the principles of open source are included in the teaching of IT and programming and, if so, how these principles are included.

Answered by Peter Peacock (27 August 2003):
School pupils studying National Qualification courses in computing or in information systems will learn about the various sources for software. At Higher level and above the teaching of software development and programming places considerable emphasis on modularity and re-usability, providing opportunities for teachers to make reference to the principles of an open source approach.

NEWS RELEASE – Antisocial Behaviour Bill

Posted on December 11, 2003

GREEN MSP MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release 10th December 2003

ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR BILL LIKELY TO FAIL, SAYS HARVIE

Green MSP Patrick Harvie today agreed with expert witnesses at the Scottish Parliament?s Communities Committee that the measures contained within the proposed Anti Social Behaviour Bill falls way short of delivering a workable solution to the problem of anti-social behaviour.

Harvie was responding to evidence given this morning by the Chartered Institute of Housing, that the Executive’s approach on antisocial behaviour should include four elements: prevention, management, enforcement and rehabilitation.

The Green MSP for Glasgow said, ?The bill as it stands is incomplete and may make matters even worse. It contains only enforcement measures, and there is no requirement in the legislation that local authorities put the other elements in place. I am also concerned that there is insufficient funding.?

?This Bill may be called the antisocial behaviour bill, but it does nothing which will engage with people’s behaviour and bring about change. It will move the problem around and could end up making things worse. It risks making families homeless, disrupting the lives of vulnerable young people, and ensuring that the victims of antisocial behaviour have more to put up with in the long run.?

?Time and time again, supporters of the bill say that it makes available ?more tools for the toolbox?, but the people at the sharp end aren’t complaining about a lack of tools. They complain about not having enough people to use the measures they already have, and not enough resources to get to grips with people’s behaviour.?

Notes to editors

The Anti Social Behaviour Bill is being scrutinised by the Communities Committee.

For more information contact the Green MSP Press Office on 0790 99 33 074