Welsh given say on civil service

25 April 2000



Welsh given say on civil service

By FWi staff

WELSH farmers are to get the chance to say what they feel about the quality of the service they receive from agricultural civil servants.

After years of complaining through their unions about slow responses to enquiries and late subsidy payments, 3000 randomly selected producers can give their personal views to NOP Research Group pollsters.

The National Assembly agriculture departments 75,000 bilingual telephone survey it is being backed by the farming unions, the CLA and Young Farmers Clubs.

It is part of Joint Initiatives for Government Services Across Wales (JIGSAW).

This 16 million project aims to improve the way the assemblys 220m grants and subsidies budget is administered, and to make services more farmer-friendly.

Farmers Union of Wales spokesman Alan Morris urged members to think carefully about their responses.

“It would be easy to criticise without suggesting priorities for deliverable service improvements,” said Mr Morris.

“This survey is an opportunity for the National Assembly to hear the views of ordinary farmers and it should be used.”