Market Research Society (MRS) submission to the House of Committee on political polling and digital media
06 July 2017

The Market Research Society (MRS) welcomes the creation of a House of Lords Committee on political polling and digital media, and the interest which this Committee has in understanding the complex issues that these rapidly evolving areas present.

The Market Research Society (MRS) welcomes the creation of a House of Lords Committee on political polling and digital media, and the interest which this Committee has in understanding the complex issues that these rapidly evolving areas present.

MRS is dedicated to the continuous improvement of understanding, regulation and best practice in all aspects of market, social and opinion research and personal data management. MRS regulates the sector via the MRS Code of Conduct and associated best practice standards and guidelines as well as a suite of training, qualifications and professional development support services.

MRS recognises the need to support both providers and users of data and research services, creating new and innovative schemes such as the MRS Fair Data trust mark which helps citizens and consumers identify trustworthy organisations which use and collect personal data in an ethical way.

The UK is second only to the US in the size of its market and social research sector. Its reputation for quality and innovation means that not only is one third of its estimated £4.8bn GVA exported, but also that the UK is considered a global authority on standards and professional training and qualifications. A major factor in this is the growth in trans-border research and communications.

MRS has provided evidence to the Committee and looks forward to supporting the process. Our formal submission can be found here