text: which is A.5 per cent of the total population. The main ethnic groups are as follows: West Indian/Guyanese 520 000 African 100^000 Indian 740,000 Pakistani 400,000 Bangladeshi 110,000 Chinese 120,000 22. The preceding figures are based on the results of the three Labour Force Surveys made between 1985 and 1987. These are voluntary, sample surveys of persons in private households throughout the United Kingdom and, with the exception of Northern Ireland where the ethnic minority population is very ®ma ' include a direct question on ethnic origin. The surveys cover one in ° private households and result in some 150,000 individuals being CCPR/C/58/Add.6 page 5 interviewed each year. Since the figures are based on samples, they can be subject to some statistical error, and for this reason figures are based on three consecutive years and grossed up to provide national estimates. The 1991 Census may include an ethnic group question, and if so it will give an even more accurate indication of the size of the ethnic minority population. 23. The Government is fully committed to the elimination of discrimination and the development of a fair and just society in which all individuals, whatever their race or colour, have equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities. The Government seeks to ensure that its general policies and programmes, including the special initiatives it is taking in inner cities, benefit all sections of society. The Government also supports legislation, institutions and programmes which are targeted directly at tackling racial discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity. Ethnic minorities and the criminal justice system 24. An issue of obvious and special importance is the need to avoid any possibility of discrimination in the criminal justice system. Concern has been expressed at the fact that members of ethnic minority groups are disproportionately represented in the prison population of England and Wales. 
analysis: The text discusses the ethnic minority population in the United Kingdom, their distribution, and the government's efforts to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. The text also touches on the issue of ethnic minorities being disproportionately represented in the prison population. This suggests that the category should be related to social and human rights issues.