This has been a UK government stance for a while but the problem is that while the UK gov spends something like 8BN pa on software licenses the amount of new development is fairly low (outside of say the GDS - central cabinet office group pushing all this)

So for example, my local council wants to purchase software to help track customer feedback from dozens of sources (web sites, phone ins etc). Sounds perfect for a web era, message queue based project.

But my council is only interested in meeting its fiduciary duty in buying software that already exists, and has been proven to do the job required. Speculative development is out - even though pretty much everyone of 430+ councils, parishes, towns etc of the U.K. Will want something similar in the next few years.

No one is willing to stump up the cash to start the open source alternative.

It's a tragedy of the not commons.

I think there ought to be solutions in some kind of development bonds or other financing arrangements - but it's not clear how.