Dash light's

[Garypb]

Good morning all, I've just bought my first passat (a 2002 1.9tdi) and have a small issue that I'm hoping somebody can help me with. Basically all the illuminated lights on the dashboard including the radio and climate control etc do not work. They flicker on for a second or so when you first start the car and then go off. Because of this i assumed it wouldn't be a fuse related issues. Just wandered if anybody had any suggestions what to try. I thought perhaps the little light adjusting switch where you control how bright the dash lights etc go could be the cause. Thanks in advance, Gary