But at a meeting in Edinburgh, Lewis Macdonald, Deputy Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs, declined to reverse his decision on the withdrawal of SEERAD funding from the Hannah Research Institute (HRI) as from April 2006, with the loss of 70 scientific and support jobs.

However the delegation from the Prospect science union and four local MSPs said the minister made a number of helpful commitments. These included support for funding a project manager to develop options at the Ayreshire site with a view to creating employment opportunities in the area.

Due to difficulties already encountered in developing transitional funding arrangements for HRI with a major partner, scientists and technical support staff will be encouraged to submit new proposals with other partners despite the previous deadline for submissions.

Support in principle was also given to establish a specialised out-placement ‘job shop’ at Hannah with a clear commitment to agree a date from which staff can take up new employment and retraining opportunities. Further detailed talks are planned with SEERAD officials on June 9 to finalise the department’s commitments.

Chris Finnerty, Prospect negotiator, said: "We believe Prospect and local elected representatives have obtained the best achievable outcome for our members given the determination of the minister to cease funding Hannah Research in its present form.

"We are particularly grateful for the efforts of local MSPs Cathy Jamieson, Phil Gallie, Adam Ingram and Chris Ballance for facilitating this meeting with the minister and for the support they have given us."

The Hannah institute specialises in work related to breast cancer, diabetes and obesity. It supplied the cells from which a nucleus was taken by the Roslin Institute to breed Dolly the cloned sheep and is studying cell lines as models of malignant tumours in women. Professor Bill Miller, a leading breast cancer specialist, said: "The institute is one of the few that undertake research with a direct practical application. They have performed pioneering work, are well respected in the scientific community and it would be a tragedy if they were forced to close."