A GOVERNMENT survey which claims that rural people are generally satisfied with key public services could be seen as "just spin", it was said this week.

Research by NOP World on behalf of the Department for Rural Affairs has concluded that in areas such as health, transport and education, satisfaction among rural individuals and businesses was on a par with levels in urban communities.

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said the report showed that services in rural areas were meeting people's needs but added: "We are not complacent.

"While a majority of people are happy with the options available to them, there is an important minority who find it difficult to access services. We must continue to concentrate our efforts in this area.

"The rural strategy announced by Secretary of State Margaret Beckett earlier this year put forward measures aimed specifically at improving rural services for those less able to access them. This survey of opinions and satisfaction levels fits well with the 2004 State of the Countryside report."

The NOP survey interviewed a sample of 6,000 householders and 2,000 business managers. On public transport, fewer than one in ten were dissatisfied with the siting of bus stops or railway stations, one in four dissatisfied with the routes offered and a quarter dissatisfied with frequency and cost.

One in nine had experienced difficulties with primary health care and 4pc were dissatisfied with the service given. Fewer than one in 12 rural businesses were dissatisfied with the quality, range and accessibility of business advice and with options available for recruiting staff.

But the Country Land and Business Association said the results were released at a time when ministers were being targeted by dissatisfied protesters.

Yorkshire regional director Dorothy Fairburn said the timing could be viewed cynically as "just spin" and added: "The survey shows that those who live in the countryside share similar aspirations to those who live in urban areas.

"Where the Government is achieving good service, it must be applauded, but surely in these difficult times of radical change it is vital that ministers continue to have a dialogue with people rather than avoiding the countryside.

"According to the survey, seven per cent of rural businesses say they are very satisfied with Defra. We agreed with the Government that there is a lot more to be done to support the rural economy.

"Yorkshire farmers face some hard challenges in the future because of changes in the farm payments system and rural businesses face the repercussions of the loss of thousands of jobs if hunting is banned."

Ian Strong, secretary of the Yorkshire Rural Community Council, said: "Some of what is said is clearly right but the things the survey has looked at are fairly limited. It is choosy in what it looks at.

"It has not necessarily gone for the things people want to know about, like affordable housing, which is top of everyone's concerns."