Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential of using commercial off-the-shelf software solutions as opposed to bespoke software solutions in the public sector.

Cabinet Office does not hold information on contracting authorities pre-market engagement activities or details of the percentage of contract awards that were preceded by pre-procurement market engagement processes.

Government already makes use of a range of commercial, off the shelf software solutions from vendors of all sizes. The Technology Code of Practice and Government’s spend controls processes ensure that bespoke solutions are developed in an accessible, open and secure manner that can be shared and used across Government.