The first session of the United Nations Statistical Commission was held in 1947. The UNSC was established and given terms of reference by the Economic and Social Council. The terms of reference as set forth in Economic and Social Council resolution 1566 (L) of 3 May 1971, reaffirming its resolution 8 (I) of 16 February 1946, as amended by resolution 8 (II) of 21 June 1946, state that the Commission shall assist the Council: "(a) In promoting the development of national statistics and the improvement of their comparability; (b) In the coordination of the statistical work of specialized agencies; (c) In the development of the central statistical services of the Secretariat; (d) In advising the organs of the United Nations on general questions relating to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical information; (e) In promoting the improvement of statistics and statistical methods generally." In resolution 1566 (L), the Council stressed the importance of the Commission's coordination function and the need to achieve an integrated system in the collection, processing and dissemination of international statistics; recognized the interest of the Statistical Commission and the Statistical Division in matters related to the use of computers in the United Nations system; and requested the Secretary-General to undertake, in cooperation with the specialized agencies, concerted action to assist the developing countries in strengthening their statistical systems.