Mr Morgan is disappointed at the turnout in the assembly election

Mr Morgan is starting the New Year by inviting people to question him about the purpose and policies of the Welsh assembly.

It followed his annual Christmas address to the Welsh nation, when he said it was a shame that few people chose to exercise their right to vote during the 2003 Welsh assembly election.

Mr Morgan, the Labour AM for Cardiff West, was a guest of BBC Radio Wales presenter Nicola Heywood-Thomas on Friday.

He faced an hour in the hot seat of the live radio show answering queries phoned or or e-mailed by listeners.

Topics for discussion included the purchase of land next to the site of the new assembly chamber, "golden handshake" incentives designed to encourage older councillors to retire, and the rebanding of properties for council tax.

Mr Morgan says he does not expect an easy ride in the phone-in show

Other subjects included whether the assembly should have more extensive powers, priorities in the health service, and the mystery surrounding the honours system.

Speaking before the show, he said he was anticipating some tough questions.

"If I know the listeners to Radio Wales, they don't pick up the phone and say 'well done Rhodri' and put the phone down.

"If they want to ask something which has been burning away inside them for maybe six months then they get a chance to unload a big sack of spuds over your head.

"But that's all part of democracy and I love it."

Presenter Nicola Heywood-Thomas said she saw the phone-in as an ideal opportunity to link decision-makers and the voters.