MPs

= MPs potentially sympathetic to OKF issues =

Richard Allan, Sheffield Hallam, LD
is, alas, standing down at the 2005 election.

Steve Webb, North Avon, LD
 
 * Asked a written question encouraging DTI to oppose Sofware Patent directive.
 * Criticised government IT projects in a debate

Runs a local campaign for (paying) broadband access.

John Pugh, Southport, LD

 * Big on interoperability:

'The entente between Bill Gates and the Prime Minister worried many people in the IT world and the commercial world in general. It is well accepted that Bill Gates and Microsoft are not natural pluralists. The experience in the United States and in Europe shows that, from time to time, Bill Gates needs to be reminded that there is such a thing as a competitive and open market.'

Proceeds with a litany of Microsoft's interoperability crimes when designing govt services. 

''Nothing further on website. Quite a small majority.''

Brian White, NE Milton Keynes, Lab

 * Used to work in IT, where he wrote data sharing systems
 * Has spoken on e-democracy [www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2001-11-29.321.1&s=access+information+speaker%3A10629#g334.0]
 * and OSS [www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2002-12-17.689.6&s=open+source+speaker%3A10629#g690.2]
 * In July 2002 asked every department what was their policy on OSS.

Very small majority...

Desmond Swayne, New Forest West, Con

 * Asked two oral questions on software patents, taking the part of SMEs.

Seems to have been a one-off, no mention of issues on site.

Sue Doughty, Guildford, LD
encouraging DTI to oppose Software Patent directive. 
 * Asked a written question

''Fairtrade enthusiast and good environmentalist, could perhaps be persuaded of the links, particularly re: development. But tiny majority''

Hugo Swire, East Devon, Con
 (no mention of patents or intellectual property)  
 * Called a debate in November 2004 on the need for generic AIDS drugs
 * And previously in September 2004
 * Asked a written question about copyright (visually impaired exemptions).

DfID also seems to be moderately switched on to the drug patent problem

Alan Duncan, Melton and Rutland, Con

 * Shadow Secretary for International Development
 * Active in the AIDS debate mentioned above.

Laurence Robertson, Tewkesbury, Con

 * Asked a written question likely effects of copyright directive, mentions access to information
 * Also asked a question about software patents

Apparently no website.