- 14 - Chapter III OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENT WORKING METHODS OF THE COMMITTEE 20. This chapter of the Committee’s report aims at providing a concise and up-to-date overview and explanation of the ways in which the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights carries out its various functions. It is designed to make the Committee’s current practice more transparent and readily accessible so as to assist States parties and others interested in the implementation of the Covenant. Since its first session, in 1987, the Committee has made a concerted effort to devise appropriate working methods which adequately reflect the nature of the tasks with which it has been entrusted. In the course of its 13 sessions it has sought to modify and develop these methods in the light of its experience. It may be expected that these methods will continue to evolve, taking account of the introduction of the reporting system requiring that a single global report be submitted every five years, the evolution of the procedures developing within the treaty regime as a whole and the feedback which the Committee receives from States parties and the Economic and Social Council. A. General guidelines for reporting 21. The Committee attaches major importance to the need to structure the reporting process and the dialogue with each State party’s representatives in such a way as to ensure that the issues of principal concern to it are dealt with in a methodical and informative manner. For this purpose the Committee has substantially revised its reporting guidelines with a view to assisting States in the reporting process and improving the effectiveness of the monitoring system as a whole. The Committee strongly urges all States parties to report to it in accordance with the guidelines to the greatest extent possible. It notes that, over the course of time, the guidelines adopted at its fifth session (E/1991/23, annex IV) may be revised to take account of its experience therewith. B. 1. Examination of States parties’ reports Work of the pre-sessional working group 22. Since the third session, a pre-sessional working group has met, usually for five days, prior to each of the Committee’s sessions. It is composed of five members of the Committee nominated by the Chairperson, taking account of the desirability of a balanced geographical distribution. 23. The principal purpose of the working group is to identify in advance the questions which might most usefully be discussed with the representatives of the reporting States. The aim is to improve the efficiency of the system and to facilitate the task of States’ representatives by providing advance notice of many of the principal issues which will arise in the examination of the reports (E/1988/14, para. 361). 24. It is generally accepted that the complex nature and diverse range of many of the issues raised in connection with the implementation of the Covenant constitutes a strong argument in favour of providing States parties with the possibility of preparing in advance to answer some of the principal