Presiding Officer welcomes public attitudes to devolution- National Assembly for Wales releases full survey results

16 Oct 2008

The National Assembly for Wales Commission on Monday October 13 released the results of one of the most comprehensive surveys undertaken in Wales to gauge attitudes towards devolution and people’s understanding of how the Assembly works.  The survey was commissioned by the National Assembly for Wales and carried out by Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Welsh Politics .  Over 2,500 people throughout Wales were questioned . 

Key findings within the survey include:

• growing support for the extension of the Assembly’s law making powers;
• public opposition to devolution continues to decline.  Only 15% state that they wish to abolish the Assembly, a percentage that has halved since 1999;
• increased levels of public interest in Welsh politics and the work of the National Assembly for Wales;
• opinion and understanding of the National Assembly is evenly spread across the different regions of Wales;  
• many Welsh citizens are confused about the distinction between the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government;
• clear majority of Welsh people understand the Assembly’s current remit and powers;
• main source of public information about politics in Wales remains television news.