prevalent in rural areas and often provided food and shelter to those in need. The amount of food aid was therefore not the only indicator of the nutritional state of the population. In additiont the Government was endeavouring to rationalize the Food Aid Prograrnmet particularly in the area of school meals. 17. There had been signficant changes in recent years in the administration of State assistance with the creation of the Human Resource Development Prograrnmet the work and objectives of which she had already explained. 18. The Planning Institute of Jamaica was responsible for studying developments in the area of economic and social rights. The secretariat of the Institute comprised a project director and four professional staff members who co-ordinated and supervised all activities under the Human Resource Development Programme. 19. Concerning the role of the National Housing Trust whicht according to the United States Agency for International Development quoted by Mr. Alston, provided only minimal assistance to people of slender means who wished to find a hornet she said that 77 per cent of the 102.1 million Jamaican dollars distributed by the institute in 1988 in the form of mortgage loans had gone to persons with incomes below the average of 18t000 dollars. 20. As had already been explained, the fact that only 0.3 per cent of GNP was allocated to social programmes was due to the austerity policy which the Jamaican Government had been forced to apply. 21. Information on school attendance had already been provided but, if the Connnittee wishedt the Jamaican delegation could furnish fuller details at a later date. 22. In answer to a series of questions on the family and marriage, Mr. SMITH (Jamaica) pointed out that the average Jamaican family comprised five members and added that connnon-law unions were widespread. Howevert he was not in a 
**Analysis**
This text appears to focus on the social and economic conditions in Jamaica, particularly in the context of government programs and policies. It mentions specific initiatives related to food aid, housing, and education, which suggests a strong connection to the social and economic development of the country.

**Category**
Health, Education, Employment, Humanitarian aid and relief