Despite a proposed 4% government budget cut for 2011–12, Scotland's 14,500 faculty researchers have job security this year, say officials. The £28-billion (US$44.3-billion) Scottish draft budget for 2011–12 was announced on 17 November. It would keep the £213-million Research Excellence Grant, which supports research nationwide by paying academic salaries and grants, at the same cash level. The Scottish Funding Council hopes to keep funding to universities stable. Universities Scotland, an association that represents the country's 20 higher-education institutions, says that more cuts after 2012 might lead to layoffs.