EFFECTIVE POLICIES REQUIRE RELIABLE RESEARCH

FIRST Minister David Trimble has highlighted the importance of effective research as a tool to assist policy makers in the devolved administration.

Mr Trimble was the keynote speaker at a dinner organised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which funds research and postgraduate training into social and economic issues.

The First Minister said: "The need for reliable social and economic information as a basis for effective policy making is essential. To accurately target our scarce resources we have to know where the greatest needs in our community are.

"Devolution has significantly altered the local policy making process and hence the research and analysis that we require to inform our choices. In Northern Ireland, our sometimes unique problems require us to develop our own distinct approach to policy making and not just replicate what happens in other parts of the UK.

"As politicians, we welcome the opportunity to make a difference to the Northern Ireland community. This change of approach is already reflected in the wide range of policy reviews signalled in the Executive’s Programme for Government.

"I welcome the ESRC’s aim to develop a Concordat with the Northern Ireland Assembly. This should, through time, allow us to develop closer links on areas of mutual interest with the overall aim of improving local decision making."

The Economic and Social Research Council is the UK’s largest independent funding agency for research and postgraduate training into social and economic issues.

The ESRC currently has an annual government grant of £65 million. (SP)