The UK Government has implemented “Open Standards Principles” policy from 1 November 2012 and all government bodies will have to comply by them. This will provide the foundation on which to select and implement open standards to support open data, the IT and digital strategies.

Details at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Open-Standards-Principles-FINAL.pdf

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/government-bodies-must-comply-open-standards-principles

This will open huge opportunities for education and training in open source, open standards, open data and we welcome this development.