$8.6m package links social scientists with policy makers

9.00am

The Government today announced an $8.6 million package of measures it said would build research capability in the social sciences in tertiary institutions.

Senior cabinet minister Steve Maharey, who is social services and tertiary education minister, made the pre-budget announcement at a social policy conference in Wellington.

Mr Maharey said a key element to the package was linking the work of leading social scientists in the tertiary sector with policy makers.

A $5.2m package would see tertiary researchers carry out work in what were priority areas for the Government.

Mr Maharey said that project would complement the seven Centres of Research Excellence which were focused on economic and environmental issues.

The project would encourage networking and collaboration by the country's leading research teams and government departments.

"It will identify and address key gaps in social science research in New Zealand. We also expect that it will lead to a pool of more highly skilled social science graduates able to take up positions in the public service, community organisations and academia."

On-going operational funding of $1.5m a year was being provided to support the project. A one-off capital grant of $500,000 would become available in 2004.

The Tertiary Education Commission would call for research proposals later this year.

Mr Maharey said several other specific research initiatives were being funded in the budget, to be delivered in May.

* $2.1m over four years would be spent on a national clearing house for information on family violence which government and non-government organisations would be able to access;

* $500,000 over four years would be spent getting questions added to Statistic New Zealand's Household Labour Force Survey to give the Government "a better picture of the extent to which New Zealanders are participating in education and training;

* $400,000 would be spent in 2003/04 and 2004/05 on a research project into sickness and invalids' benefits, population and growth factors which the Government could take into account when looking at its welfare programme.

Mr Maharey also said legislation establishing the Families Commission would be introduced tomorrow along with an announcement of the funding it had been allocated in the budget.

- NZPA