More than eight out of ten Bermuda residents gave the PLP Government pass marks in a `report card' on its first six months in power, according to a new survey.

And a conservative Budget is claimed as one of the main factors in the high ratings.

A total of 18 per cent of those polled expressed "complete satisfaction'' with the new Government, while 63 percent said they were "generally satisfied.'' Only one per cent of the survey said they were very dissatisfied with Government, while six per cent said they were generally dissatisfied.

A total of 12 per cent said they had no opinion either way.

And polling firm TMC said that "compared favourably'' with the 68 per cent approval rating won by the former UBP Government just before it called last November's General Election.

The survey report said: "Confidence in the Government can be explained, in part, by the popularity of its first Budget, which was delivered in February.'' Pollsters added that 11 percent "strongly approved'' of the Budget, while 70 percent "generally approved.'' That compared with two percent who strongly disapproved and four per cent who generally disapproved.

The pollsters added: "Those who voice approval of the Government's first Budget are most likely to do so because they feel it represents no big change from the previous Government, because it included no new taxes, or because it focuses on quality of life issues such as education and housing.'' But the poll also warned of potential storm clouds ahead for the PLP among more radical elements.

The survey said: "The few who disapprove of this Budget are most apt to say either that it is not different enough from the UBP Government or it is proposing to spend in the wrong areas.'' The survey added: "Public satisfaction with the Government is widespread across the Island and no more than 12 per cent from any group express dissatisfaction.'' But the survey also shows a black/white divide, with 28 per cent of black people claiming complete satisfaction, compared to just two per cent of white people.

Of all Bermudians surveyed, 19 per cent logged complete satisfaction, rising to 23 per cent among those on household incomes of less than $50,000 a year.

And the same racial split is also clear from the figures on Budget ratings for the PLP.

The survey report said: "As with views about the Government overall, strong approval of the Budget is most likely to be voiced by black residents -- 14 per cent versus five per cent of whites -- and Bermudians (14 per cent compared to five percent of non-Bermudians).'' The survey -- by Total Marketing and Communications and overseas firm Corporate Research Associates -- was carried out among just over 400 residents between March 18 and 24 as part of the quarterly Bermuda Omnibus Survey.

Pollsters claim a random sample of the Bermuda population is accurate to within plus or minus 4.9 percent.