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| Health research budget 'threat' | Health research budget 'threat' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three dozen medical professionals claim the Welsh Assembly Government's draft budget cuts funding for health and social care research and development. | Three dozen medical professionals claim the Welsh Assembly Government's draft budget cuts funding for health and social care research and development. |
| A letter to the first minister warns a key assembly government pledge - the proposed National Institute for Health Research - will fail to be delivered. | A letter to the first minister warns a key assembly government pledge - the proposed National Institute for Health Research - will fail to be delivered. |
| It is understood a senior clinician seconded to an assembly government post quit after the budget was published. | It is understood a senior clinician seconded to an assembly government post quit after the budget was published. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government said funding discussions were continuing. | The Welsh Assembly Government said funding discussions were continuing. |
| The letter, seen by BBC Wales, is signed by 36 of some of Wales's most senior medical experts. | The letter, seen by BBC Wales, is signed by 36 of some of Wales's most senior medical experts. |
| They include the former Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dame Deirdre Hine, now Chair of the Wales Cancer Institute Partners Forum, and Baroness Professor Ilora Finlay, of Llandaff, an expert in palliative care. | They include the former Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dame Deirdre Hine, now Chair of the Wales Cancer Institute Partners Forum, and Baroness Professor Ilora Finlay, of Llandaff, an expert in palliative care. |
| Discussions between ministers on further allocations for medical research and development are still ongoing. Welsh Assembly Government spokesman | Discussions between ministers on further allocations for medical research and development are still ongoing. Welsh Assembly Government spokesman |
| The signatories said the current allocation for health and social care research and development in Wales has been cut by £1m, when they claim it is already far below its English equivalent. | The signatories said the current allocation for health and social care research and development in Wales has been cut by £1m, when they claim it is already far below its English equivalent. |
| They argued in their letter that as a result the proposed National Institute for Health Research for Wales, promised by the assembly government, will fail to be delivered. | |
| They claimed the draft budget "appears to be in complete contradiction of the assembly government's priorities, as stated by [Finance Minister] Andrew Davies recently of 'encouraging innovation and building a knowledge economy'". | They claimed the draft budget "appears to be in complete contradiction of the assembly government's priorities, as stated by [Finance Minister] Andrew Davies recently of 'encouraging innovation and building a knowledge economy'". |
| The letter concluded: "We urge you to reconsider the ongoing allocation for health and social care related research and development. | The letter concluded: "We urge you to reconsider the ongoing allocation for health and social care related research and development. |
| "Where is the long term commitment to the strategic uplift of R&D funding in Wales to which you committed yourself recently?" | "Where is the long term commitment to the strategic uplift of R&D funding in Wales to which you committed yourself recently?" |
| Key services | Key services |
| In a statement, the assembly government said it was determined that Wales should play a full role in health and social care research developments. | In a statement, the assembly government said it was determined that Wales should play a full role in health and social care research developments. |
| An assembly government spokesman said: "Funding issues cut across more than one portfolio and discussions between ministers on further allocations for medical research and development are still ongoing." | An assembly government spokesman said: "Funding issues cut across more than one portfolio and discussions between ministers on further allocations for medical research and development are still ongoing." |
| Last week it emerged that funding for key services in Wales will face cuts in real terms in the draft budget. | Last week it emerged that funding for key services in Wales will face cuts in real terms in the draft budget. |
| Mr Davies told the assembly's finance committee that any "cash" rises in the three-year budget did not take account of the UK's 2.7% inflation rate. | Mr Davies told the assembly's finance committee that any "cash" rises in the three-year budget did not take account of the UK's 2.7% inflation rate. |
| After inflation was taken into consideration, the increase in 2008/9 would be 1.5%, and rises of 0.4% and 0.6% in the years following that. | After inflation was taken into consideration, the increase in 2008/9 would be 1.5%, and rises of 0.4% and 0.6% in the years following that. |
| However, Mr Davies insisted there was no part of the One Wales agreement - the power-sharing deal drawn up between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru - that was undeliverable. | However, Mr Davies insisted there was no part of the One Wales agreement - the power-sharing deal drawn up between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru - that was undeliverable. |