The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has signed a £6m deal with Microsoft to use Windows for the next three years.

IT support and updated software licences will be included in the agreement, which the FCO says will allow it to run a modern and efficient computer system.

Nick Westcott, the FCO's head of IT strategy, says the deal sets down the kind of principles needed to underpin the relationship between the FCO and its key business partners in IT.

'Our aim is to identify how new technologies can best serve the needs of FCO staff. We want to stay ahead of the game,' he said.

Steve Beswick, central government director for Microsoft UK says the deal is a great demonstration of how the firm is deepening its engagement with UK government departments.

'The agreement supports governmental objectives to improve productivity and services to citizens,' a spokesperson for Microsoft UK said.