Dear Sir or Madam,

Please provide the following information for the past three
financial years:

* how much money has been spent by the Metropolitan Police Service
for purchasing of licences for COTS (Commercial off-the-shelf)
desktop software (including but not limited to word processors,
spreadsheet software, "Office"-type packages, PDF-generation
software, email and calendar software)?

* how much money has been spent by Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of desktop operating systems (e.g. Mac OS, Microsoft
Windows, Linux-based operating systems)

* how much money has been spent by Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of server operating systems (e.g. Mac OS, Microsoft
Windows, Linux-based operating systems)

* how much money has been spent by Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of desktop and laptop computers?

* how much money has been spent by Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of computer servers?

* on average, after how many years/months are desktop and laptop
computers replaced currently?

Please present the amounts categorised appropriately according to
your available data (e.g. per vendor or per software category, if
available)

If budget data for the current financial year is available, please
provide this as well as data for actual spend in the previous
years.

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Anders Jacobsen

Dear Mr Jacobsen

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2008040000390

I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 01/04/2008. I note you seek
access to the following information:

Please provide the following information for the past three financial
years:

How much money has been spent by the Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of licences for COTS (Commercial off-the-shelf) desktop
software (including but not limited to word processors, spreadsheet
software, "Office"-type packages, PDF-generation software, email and
calendar software)?

How much money has been spent by Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of desktop operating systems (e.g. Mac OS, Microsoft Windows,
Linux-based operating systems)
?
How much money has been spent by Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of server operating systems (e.g. Mac OS, Microsoft Windows,
Linux-based operating systems)
?
How much money has been spent by Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of desktop and laptop computers?

How much money has been spent by Metropolitan Police Service for
purchasing of computer servers?
On average, after how many years/months are desktop and laptop computers
replaced currently?

Please present the amounts categorised appropriately according to your
available data (e.g. per vendor or per software category, if available)

If budget data for the current financial year is available, please provide
this as well as data for actual spend in the previous years.

Your request will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). You will receive a response within the
statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party. In some circumstances the MPS may be unable to achieve this
deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information you request. If this is the case you will be informed and
the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive payment
from you. If you choose not to make payment then your request will remain
unanswered.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
the MPS.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Shannon Aldridge on telephone number 020 7161 3527 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Shannon Aldridge
Support Officer

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again –

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within three months.

The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

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